Relationship Between Rapid Skin Clearance and Quality of Life Benefit: Post Hoc Analysis of Japanese Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis Treated with Ixekizumab (UNCOVER-J)

INTRODUCTION: Ixekizumab has demonstrated rapid onset of action, high levels of skin clearance, and improvements in quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, including plaque, erythrodermic, or generalized pustular psoriasis. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of UNCOVER-J, a phase 3, multicenter, single-arm, open-label study of ixekizumab for treatment of Japanese patients with psoriasis. The objective was to assess the proportion of patients who achieved Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (0,1) and Itch Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (0) at weeks 4 and 12 according to Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) percentage improvement levels. All intent-to-treat patients with plaque, erythrodermic, or generalized pustular psoriasis were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients were treated with ixekizumab and included in the analysis. Rapid improvements in PASI at weeks 4 and 12 were associated with improvements in DLQI (0,1) response at week 4 and at week 12. Complete skin clearance (PASI 100) achieved either at week 4 or week 12 was associated with a higher Itch NRS (0) response at week 12. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with rapid improvement in clinical symptoms of psoriasis had better patient outcomes than those with slower responses. These findings highlight the clinical importance of achieving a fast response in patients with psoriasis, which may lead to better treatment outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01624233.