TALTZ Solution for injection Ref.[8982] Active ingredients: Ixekizumab

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Immunosuppressants, interleukin inhibitors
ATC code: L04AC13

Mechanism of action

Ixekizumab is an IgG4 monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity (<3 pM) and specificity to interleukin 17A (both IL-17A and IL-17A/F). Elevated concentrations of IL-17A have been implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis by promoting keratinocyte proliferation and activation, as well as in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis. Neutralisation of IL-17A by ixekizumab inhibits these actions. Ixekizumab does not bind to ligands IL-17B, IL-17C, IL-17D, IL-17E or IL-17F.

In vitro binding assays confirmed that ixekizumab does not bind to human Fcγ receptors I, IIa, and IIIa or to complement component C1q.

Pharmacodynamic effects

Ixekizumab modulates biological responses that are induced or regulated by IL-17A. Based on psoriatic skin biopsy data from a phase I study, there was a dose-related trend towards decreased epidermal thickness, number of proliferating keratinocytes, T cells, and dendritic cells, as well as reductions in local inflammatory markers from baseline to day 43. As a direct consequence treatment with ixekizumab reduces erythema, induration and desquamation present in plaque psoriasis lesions.

Taltz has been shown to lower (within 1 week of treatment) levels of C-reactive protein, which is a marker of inflammation.

Clinical efficacy and safety

Plaque psoriasis

The efficacy and safety of Taltz were assessed in three randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III studies in adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who were candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy (UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2, and UNCOVER-3). The efficacy and safety of Taltz were also evaluated versus etanercept (UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3). Patients randomised to Taltz who were sPGA (0,1) responders (static Physicians Global Assessment) at Week 12 were re-randomised to receive placebo or Taltz for an additional 48 weeks (UNCOVER-1 and UNCOVER-2); patients randomised to placebo, etanercept or Taltz who were sPGA (0,1) nonresponders received Taltz for up to 48 weeks.

Of the 3,866 patients enrolled in these placebo-controlled studies, 64% had received prior systemic therapy (biologic, conventional systemic or psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA)), 43.5% had received prior phototherapy, 49.3% had received prior conventional systemic therapy, and 26.4% had received prior biologic therapy for the treatment of psoriasis. Of all patients, 14.9% had received at least one anti-TNF alpha agent, and 8.7% had received an anti-IL-12/IL-23. 23.4% of patients had a history of psoriatic arthritis at baseline.

In all three studies, the co-primary endpoints were the proportion of patients who achieved a PASI 75 response (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) and an sPGA of 0 (“clear”) or 1 (“minimal”) response at Week 12 versus placebo. Patients in all treatment groups had a median baseline PASI score ranging from 17.4 to 18.3; 48.3% to 51.2% of patients had a baseline sPGA score of severe or very severe, and mean baseline itch Numeric Rating Scale (itch NRS) ranging from 6.3 to 7.1.

Clinical response at 12 weeks

UNCOVER-1 enrolled 1,296 patients. Patients were randomised (1:1:1) to receive either placebo or Taltz (80 mg every two or four weeks [Q2W or Q4W] following a 160 mg starting dose) for 12 weeks.

Table 2. Efficacy results at Week 12 in UNCOVER-1:

Abbreviations: N = number of patients in the intent-to-treat population
Note: patients with missing data were counted as non-responders
^a p<0.001 compared with placebo
^b Patients with Itch NRS ≥ 4 at baseline: placebo N=374, Taltz 80 mg Q4W N=379, Taltz 80 mg Q2W N=391

UNCOVER-2 enrolled 1,224 patients. Patients were randomised (1:2:2:2) to receive either placebo, or Taltz (80 mg every two or four weeks [Q2W or Q4W] following a 160 mg starting dose) or etanercept 50 mg twice weekly for 12 weeks.

Table 3. Efficacy results at Week 12 in UNCOVER-2:

Abbreviations: N = number of patients in the intent-to-treat population
Note: patients with missing data were counted as non-responders.
^a p<0.001 compared with placebo
^b p<0.001 compared with etanercept
^c p<0.01 compared with placebo
^d Patients with Itch NRS ≥ 4 at baseline: placebo N=135, Taltz 80 mg Q4W N=293, Taltz 80 mg Q2W N=303, Etanercept N=306

UNCOVER-3 enrolled 1,346 patients. Patients were randomised (1:2:2:2) to receive either placebo, or Taltz (80 mg every two or four weeks [Q2W or Q4W] following a 160 mg starting dose) or etanercept 50 mg twice weekly for 12 weeks.

Table 4. Efficacy results at Week 12 in UNCOVER-3:

Taltz was associated with a fast onset of efficacy with >50% reduction in mean PASI by Week 2 (Figure 1). The percentage of patients achieving PASI 75 was significantly greater for Taltz compared with placebo and etanercept as early as Week 1. Approximately 25% of patients treated with Taltz achieved a PASI score <5 by Week 2, more than 55% achieved the PASI score <5 by Week 4, and increased to 85% by Week 12 (compared to 3%, 14% and 50% for etanercept). Significant improvements in itch severity were seen at Week 1 in patients treated with Taltz.

Figure 1. PASI score, percent improvement at each post baseline visit (mBOCF)) in the Intentto-Treat Population during the Induction Dosing Period – UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3:

The efficacy and safety of Taltz was demonstrated regardless of age, gender, race, body weight, PASI baseline severity, plaques location, concurrent psoriatic arthritis, and previous treatment with a biologic. Taltz was efficacious in systemic treatment-naive, biologic-naive, biologic/anti-TNFexposed and biologic/anti-TNF-failure patients.

Efficacy in Non-Responders to Etanercept: For patients identified as an sPGA (0,1) non-responder to etanercept at Week 12 in UNCOVER-2 (N=200) and who were switched to Taltz 80 mg Q4W after a 4 week washout period, 73% and 83.5% of patients were able to achieve sPGA (0,1) and PASI 75, respectively, after 12 weeks of being treated with Taltz.

In the 2 clinical studies that included an active comparator (UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3), the rate of serious adverse events was 1.9% for both etanercept and for Taltz, and the rate of discontinuation due to adverse events was 1.2% for etanercept and 2.0% for Taltz. The rate of infections was 21.5% for etanercept and 26.0% for Taltz, with the majority of the events mild to moderate in severity. The rate of serious infections was 0.4% for etanercept and 0.5% for Taltz.

Maintenance of Response at Week 60

Patients originally randomised to Taltz and who were responders at Week 12 (i.e., sPGA score of 0,1) in UNCOVER-1 and UNCOVER-2 were re-randomised to an additional 48 weeks of one of the following treatment regimens: placebo, or Taltz (80 mg every four or twelve weeks [Q4W or Q12W]).

Table 5. Maintenance of Response and Efficacy at Week 60 (Studies UNCOVER-1 and UNCOVER-2):

Abbreviations: N = number of patients in the analysis population
Note: patients with missing data were counted as non-responders
^a p<0.001 compared with placebo

Taltz was efficacious in the maintenance of response in systemic treatment-naive, biologic-naive, biologic/anti-TNF-exposed and biologic/anti-TNF-failure patients.

For sPGA (0,1) responders at Week 12 re-randomised to treatment withdrawal (i.e., placebo), the median time to relapse (sPGA ≥3) was 164 days in integrated UNCOVER-1 and UNCOVER-2 studies. Among these patients, 71.5% regained at least an sPGA (0,1) response within 12 weeks of restarting treatment with Taltz 80 mg Q4W.

Significantly greater improvements at Week 12 from baseline compared to placebo and etanercept were demonstrated in nail psoriasis (as measured by the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index [NAPSI]), in scalp psoriasis (as measured by Psoriasis Scalp Severity Index [PSSI]) and in palmoplantar psoriasis (as measured by Psoriasis Palmoplantar Severity Index [PPASI]). These improvements in nail, scalp and palmoplantar psoriasis were maintained at Week 60 in patients treated with Taltz who were sPGA (0,1) responders at Week 12.

Quality of Life/Patient-Reported Outcomes

At Week 12 and across studies, Taltz was associated with statistically significant improvement in Health-related Quality of Life as assessed by mean decrease ranges from baseline in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (Taltz 80 mg Q2W from -10.2 to -11.1, Taltz 80 mg Q4W from -9.4 to -10.7, etanercept from -7.7 to -8.0 and placebo -1.0 to -2.0). A significantly greater proportion of patients treated with Taltz achieved a DLQI 0 or 1. Across studies, Taltz was associated with statistically significant improvement of itching severity assessed by the Itch NRS score. A significantly greater proportion of patients treated with Taltz achieved a reduction of Itch NRS ≥4 points at week 12 (84.6% for Taltz Q2W, 79.2% for Taltz Q4W and 16.5% for placebo) and the benefit was sustained over time up to Week 60 in patients treated with Taltz who were sPGA (0 or 1) responders at Week 12. There was not any evidence of worsening of depression up to 60 weeks treatment with Taltz as assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report.

Postmarketing Phase 3b, direct comparative study

Efficacy and safety of ixekizumab was also investigated in a double-blind study compared to ustekinumab with ixekizumab being superior on the primary study objective (PASI 90 response at week 12, Table 6). Onset of response was superior on PASI 75 as early as week 2 (p<0.001) and on PASI 90 and PASI 100 by week 4 (p<0.001). Superiority of ixekizumab versus ustekinumab was also demonstrated in the subgroups stratified by weight.

Table 6. PASI-Response Rates from comparative study ixekizumab versus ustekinumab:

* Ixekizumab 160 mg was given as a loading dose followed by 80 mg at week 2,4,6,8,10 and 12, and 80 mg Q4W thereafter
** Weight based dosing: Patients treated with ustekinumab received 45 mg or 90 mg at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks until Week 52 (dosed by weight as per approved posology)
^§ p<0.001 versus ustekinumab (p value only provided for primary endpoint)

Efficacy in Genital Psoriasis

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (IXORA-Q) was conducted in 149 adult subjects (24% females) with moderate to severe genital psoriasis (sPGA of Genitalia score of ≥3), a minimum body surface area (BSA) involvement of 1% (60.4% had a BSA ≥10%) and previous failure of or intolerance to at least one topical therapy for genital psoriasis. Patients had at least moderate plaque psoriasis (defined as sPGA score of ≥ 3 and being candidates for phototherapy and/or systemic therapy) for at least 6 months.

Subjects randomized to TALTZ received an initial dose of 160 mg followed by 80 mg every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved at least a “0” (clear) or “1” (minimal) response on the sPGA of Genitalia (sPGA of Genitalia 0/1). At Week 12, significantly more subjects in the TALTZ group than placebo group achieved a sPGA of Genitalia 0/1 and a sPGA 0/1 independent of baseline BSA (baseline BSA 1% - <10% resp. ≥10%: sPGA of Genitalia “0” or “1”: Taltz 71%, resp. 75%; placebo: 0%, resp. 13%). A significantly greater proportion of patients treated with TALTZ achieved a reduction in the PROs of severity of genital pain, genital itch, impact of genital psoriasis on sexual activity, and Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI).

Table 7 Efficacy Results at Week 12 in Adults with Genital Psoriasis in Trial IXORA-Q; NRI^a:

^a Abbreviations: NRI = Non-Responder Imputation; sPGA = static Physician Global Assessment; GPSS = Genital Psoriasis Symptom Scale; SFQ = Sexual Frequency Questionnaire; DLQI = Dermatology Quality of Life Index; ^bTotal DLQI score of 0,1 indicates skin condition has no effect at all on patient’s life. sPGA of “0” or “1” is equivalent to “clear” or “minimal”; NRS = Numeric Rating Scale

Psoriatic arthritis

The safety and efficacy of Taltz were assessed in two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III studies in 780 patients with active psoriatic arthritis (≥3 swollen and ≥3 tender joints). Patients in these studies had a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis [CASPAR] criteria) for a median of 5.33 years. Randomised patients also had current plaque psoriasis skin lesions (94.0%) or a documented history of plaque psoriasis, with 12.1% of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis at baseline. Over 58.9% and 22.3% of the psoriatic arthritis patients had enthesitis and dactylitis at baseline, respectively. For both studies, the primary endpoint was American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 response at Week 24.

In Psoriatic Arthritis Study 1 (SPIRIT-P1), patients naive to biologic therapy with active psoriatic arthritis were randomised to subcutaneous injections of placebo, adalimumab 40 mg once every 2 weeks (active control reference arm), Taltz 80 mg once every 2 weeks (Q2W), or 80 mg once every 4 weeks (Q4W). Both Taltz regimens included a 160 mg starting dose. 85.3% of patients in this study had received prior treatment with ≥1 cDMARD. 53% of patients had concomitant use of MTX at a mean weekly dose of 15.8 mg. 67% of patients who had concomitant use of MTX had a dose of 15 mg or greater. Patients in all treatment groups with an inadequate response at week 16 received rescue therapy (modification to background therapy). Patients on Taltz Q2W or Q4W remained on their originally assigned dose of Taltz. Patients receiving adalimumab or placebo were re-randomised 1:1 to Taltz Q2W or Q4W at week 16 or 24 based on responder status.

Psoriatic Arthritis Study 2 (SPIRIT-P2) enrolled patients who were previously treated with an anti-TNF agent and discontinued the anti-TNF agent for either lack of efficacy or intolerance (anti-TNF-IR patients). Patients were randomised to subcutaneous injections of placebo, Taltz 80 mg once every 2 weeks (Q2W), or 80 mg once every 4 weeks (Q4W). Both Taltz regimens included a 160 mg starting dose. 56% and 35% of patients were inadequate responders to 1 anti-TNF or 2 anti-TNF, respectively. SPIRIT-P2 evaluated 363 patients, of whom 41% had concomitant use of MTX at a mean weekly dose of 16.1 mg. 73.2% of patients who had concomitant use of MTX had a dose of 15 mg or greater. Patients in all treatment groups with an inadequate response at week 16 received rescue therapy (modification to background therapy). Patients in Taltz Q2W or Q4W remained on their originally assigned dose of Taltz. Patients receiving placebo were re-randomised 1:1 to Taltz Q2W or Q4W at week 16 or 24 based on responder status.

Signs and symptoms

Treatment with Taltz resulted in significant improvement in measures of disease activity compared to placebo at Week 24 (see Table 8).

Table 8. Efficacy results in SPIRIT-P1 and SPIRIT-P2 at week 24:

Abbreviations: ACR 20/50/70 = American College of Rheumatology 20%/50%/70% response rate; ADA = adalimumab; BSA = body surface area; CI = confidence interval; Q4W = Taltz 80 mg every 4 weeks; Q2W = Taltz 80 mg every 2 weeks; N = number of patients in the analysis population; n = number of patients in the specified category; NRI = non-responder imputation; PASI 100 = psoriasis area and severity index 100% improvement; PBO = placebo.
Note: patients who were rescued at week 16 or discontinued or with missing data were imputed as non-responders for week 24 analyses.
Concomitant cDMARDs included MTX, leflunomide and sulfasalazine.
^a p<0.05; ^bp<0.01; ^cp<0.001 compared with placebo.

In patients with pre-existing dactylitis or enthesitis, treatment with Taltz Q4W resulted in improvement in dactylitis and enthesitis at Week 24 compared to placebo (resolution: 78% vs. 24%; p<0.001, and 39% vs. 21%; p<0.01, respectively).

In patients with ≥3% BSA, the improvement in skin clearance at Week 12 as measured by 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI 75), was 67% (94/141) for those treated with the Q4W dosing regimen, and 9% (12/134) for those treated with placebo (p<0.001). The proportion of patients achieving a PASI 75, PASI 90, and PASI 100 response at Week 24 was greater with Taltz Q4W compared to placebo (p<0.001). In patients with concomitant moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, Taltz Q2W dose regimen showed significantly higher response rate for PASI75, PASI 90 and PASI 100 compared to placebo (p<0.001) and demonstrated clinically meaningful benefit over the Q4W dose regimen.

The treatment responses on Taltz were significantly greater than those on placebo as early as week 1 for ACR 20, week 4 for ACR 50 and week 8 for ACR 70 and persisted through week 24.

Figure 2. ACR 20 response in SPIRIT-P1 over time up to Week 24:

In SPIRIT-P1 and SPIRIT-P2, similar responses for ACR 20/50/70 were seen in patients with psoriatic arthritis regardless of whether they were on concomitant cDMARDs, including MTX treatment, or not.

In SPIRIT-P1and SPIRIT-P2, improvements were shown in all components of the ACR scores including patient assessment of pain. At Week 24 the proportion of patients achieving a modified Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria (PsARC) response was greater in the Taltz-treated patients compared to placebo.

In SPIRIT-P1, efficacy was maintained up to Week 52 as assessed by ACR 20/50/70, MDA, enthesitis resolution, dactylitis resolution, and PASI 75/90/100 response rates.

The efficacy and safety of Taltz was demonstrated regardless of age, gender, race, disease duration, baseline body weight, baseline psoriasis involvement, baseline CRP, baseline DAS28-CRP, concomitant corticosteroid use, and previous treatment with a biologic. Taltz was efficacious in biologic-naive, biologic-exposed and biologic-failure patients.

Radiographic response

In SPIRIT-P1, inhibition of progression of structural damage was assessed radiographically and expressed as the change in modified total Sharp Score (mTSS) and its components, the Erosion Score (ES) and the Joint Space Narrowing score (JSN) at Weeks 24 and 52, compared to baseline. Week 24 data are presented in Table 9.

Table 9. Change in modified Total Sharp Score in SPIRIT-P1:

Abbreviations: ADA = adalimumab; CI = confidence interval; Q4W = Taltz 80 mg every 4 weeks; Q2W = Taltz 80 mg every 2 weeks; LSM = least squares mean; N = number of patients in the analysis population; PBO = placebo; SE = standard error; SD = standard deviation.
^b p<0.01; ^cp<0.001 compared with placebo.

Radiographic joint damage progression was inhibited by Taltz (Table 9) at Week 24, and the percentage of patients with no radiographic joint damage progression (defined as a change from baseline in mTSS of ≤0.5) from randomisation to Week 24 was 94.8% for Taltz Q2W(p<0.001), 89.0% for Taltz Q4W(p=0.026), 95.8% for adalimumab (p<0.001), all compared to 77.4% for placebo. At Week 52, the mean change from baseline in mTSS was 0.27 for placebo/Taltz Q4W, 0.54 for Taltz Q4W/Taltz Q4W, and 0.32 for adalimumab/Taltz Q4W. The percentage of patients with no radiographic joint damage progression from randomisation to Week 52 was 90.9% for placebo/Taltz Q4W, 85.6% for Taltz Q4W/Taltz Q4W, and 89.4% for adalimumab/Taltz Q4W.

Physical function and health-related quality of life

In both SPIRIT-P1 and SPIRIT-P2, patients treated with Taltz Q2W (p<0.001) and Q4W (p<0.001) showed significant improvement in physical function compared to patients treated with placebo as assessed by Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) at Week 24, and maintained at Week 52 in SPIRIT-P1.

Taltz-treated patients reported improvements in health-related quality of life as measured by the Physical Component Summary of the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36 PCS) score (p<0.001). There were also improvements demonstrated in fatigue as assessed by Fatigue severity NRS scores (p<0.001).

Postmarketing Phase 4, direct comparative study

Efficacy and safety of Taltz was investigated in a multicenter, randomized, open-label, rater-blinded, parallel-group study (SPIRIT-H2H) compared to adalimumab (ADA) in 566 patients with PsA who were naïve to biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARD). Patients were stratified at baseline based on concomitant cDMARD use and presence of moderate-to-severe psoriasis (PASI≥12, BSA≥10 and sPGA≥3).

Taltz was superior to ADA on the primary study objective: simultaneous achievement of ACR 50 and PASI 100 response at Week 24 (Taltz 36.0% vs ADA 27.9%; p=0.036; 95% confidence interval [0.5%, 15.8%]). Taltz also showed non-inferiority (pre-specified margin of 12%) to ADA on ACR 50 (ITT analysis: Taltz 50.5% vs ADA 46.6%; 3.9% difference vs. ADA; 95% confidence interval [ 4.3%; 12.1%] ; PPS analysis Taltz: 52.3%, ADA: 53.1%, difference: -0.8% [CI: -10.3%; 8.7%]) and superiority on PASI 100 at Week 24 (60.1% with Taltz vs 46.6% with ADA, p=0.001), which were the major secondary endpoints in the study.

Figure 3. Primary Endpoint (Simultaneous ACR 50 & PASI 100) and Major Secondary Endpoints (ACR 50; PASI 100) Response Rates Week 0 – 24 [ITT population, NRI]**:

Immunisations

In a study in healthy subjects, no safety concerns were identified of two inactivated vaccines (tetanus and pneumococcal), received after two doses of ixekizumab (160 mg followed by a second dose of 80 mg two weeks later). However, the data concerning immunisation were insufficient to conclude on an adequate immune response to these vaccines following administration of Taltz.

Paediatric population

The European Medicines Agency has deferred the obligation to submit the results of studies with Taltz in one or more subsets of the paediatric population in the treatment of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (see section 4.2 for information on paediatric use).