High Level Skin Responses Seen with Inhibitor of IL-23p19 in Psoriasis Save

Rheumatology News reports the results of a novel trial presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology meeting in Copenhagen.

In a head-to-head trial, 166 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were randomized to receive different doses of BI 655066 (selective inhibitor of the p19 subunit of interleukin-23) or ustekinumab. BI 655066, achieved higher rates of PASI 90 (81%). PASI 100 (54%) and PASI 75 (93%), but it did so much faster and maintained such responses longer than ustekinumab.

It's unclear why inhibition of IL-23 p19 leads to impressive and durable clinical responses, but investigators speculate indirect effects on Th-17 cells, since IL-23 is necessary for Th-17 cell survival.