Taltz beats Stelara in head to head

[Fred]

A 24 week head to head study of Taltz and Stelara resulted in a Taltz win.

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Eli Lilly and Company announced today that patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with Taltz® (ixekizumab) demonstrated superior efficacy at 24 weeks compared to patients treated with Stelara®* (ustekinumab).

At 24 weeks, patients treated with Taltz achieved significantly higher response rates compared to patients treated with Stelara, including 83 percent of patients who achieved Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 90—the study's primary endpoint—compared to 59 percent of patients who achieved PASI 90 after treatment with Stelara.

"For many years, achieving PASI 75 - or 75 percent improvement in skin plaques - has been the standard treatment goal for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis," said Kristian Reich, M.D., Ph.D., lead author and professor, Georg-August-University Göttingen and Dermatologikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. "With the introduction of treatments like Taltz, dermatologists can offer treatment options that allow more patients to achieve PASI 90 or PASI 100. The data of the IXORA-S study is significant, as it demonstrates both high levels of skin improvement for patients treated with Taltz, consistent with pivotal Phase 3 trials, as well as higher response rates over Stelara, which is one of the most frequently used biologics in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis."

In the IXORA-S study, patients were randomized to receive either Stelara (45 mg or 90 mg weight-based dosing per label) or Taltz (80 mg every two weeks for 12 weeks followed by 80 mg every four weeks), following a 160-mg starting dose, for a total of 52 weeks.

This study also evaluated PASI 75, PASI 100 and static Physician's Global Assessment score (sPGA) 0 or 1 with at least a two-point improvement from baseline. PASI measures the extent and severity of psoriasis by assessing average redness, thickness and scaliness of skin lesions (each graded on a zero to four scale), weighted by the body surface area of involved skin.1 The sPGA is the physician's assessment of severity of a patient's psoriasis lesions overall at a specific point in time and is a required measure the FDA uses to evaluate effectiveness.1

At 24 weeks, patients treated with Taltz achieved significantly higher response rates compared to patients treated with Stelara, as demonstrated by the following:

   91.2 percent of patients treated with Taltz achieved PASI 75 compared to 81.9 percent of patients treated with Stelara (p=0.015);
   83.1 percent of patients treated with Taltz achieved PASI 90 compared to 59.0 percent of patients treated with Stelara (p < 0.001);
   49.3 percent of patients treated with Taltz achieved PASI 100 compared to 23.5 percent of patients treated with Stelara (p=0.001).

Additionally, 86.6 percent of patients treated with Taltz achieved sPGA 0 or 1 compared to 69.3 percent of patients treated with Stelara after 24 weeks (p < 0.001).

The majority of treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate. There were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups in overall treatment-emergent adverse events. The safety profile for Taltz was consistent with previous clinical trials.

"The approval of Taltz in the U.S., Canada and Europe nearly one year ago introduced a treatment option that could help patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis achieve virtually clear or completely clear skin," said Dr. Lotus Mallbris, global brand development leader, Taltz, Eli Lilly and Company. "We are thrilled with the opportunity to share this new data with dermatologists at AAD, as it reinforces the clinical benefits of Taltz for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis."

Results from Phase 3 trials evaluating Taltz for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis are expected to be presented later this year. Taltz is also in Phase 3 trials for the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis.

Source: lilly.com

Taltz (ixekizumab)

Stelara (ustekinumab)

[PWSCHNEIDER1000]

Hi Fred,
Thanks for the follow-up info on Taltz. I hope it's as effective for me as the advertising and studies show.
 Since my last post I've temporarily been using a UVB light booth at my dermatologist's office to slow the aggressive nature of my psoriasis.
The good doctor and staff have not been doing well at maintaining this well worn booth and UVB light tubes. 17 tubes are gray when lit
and another 4 are not lit at all. That makes 21 out of 48 tubes that are not producing any UVB energy and MAY be producing a lower wave length
energy that could be harmful. 
 Fewer tubes ie: less UVB energy wouldn't be a problem, all you'd have to do is add more minutes under exposure.
The problem is that most of the good tubes are on one side of the booth. To get an even exposure over the surfaces of my body, I have to rotate.
Rotate enough times you'll end up getting dizzy and might fall into the unprotected tubes. The booth is hand made and has the necessary
monitoring and timing devices. I've told the staff about the dead tubes for three weeks. Nothing is done.
The psoriasis flare has slowed but still progressing.


 I start Taltz on the 20th of March. I've decided to stop using the Dr.'s  UVB booth. I've got some left over Methoxsalen (generic oxsoralen) and have access
to a booth with UVA tubes. If my psoriasis continues to flare, I'll do some PUVA treatements until I can start on Taltz.
 Additionally I have some psoriatic arthritis developing along with the psoriasis. It's not real bad yet. It's mostly affecting my thumbs. It's amazing how
we neglect to appreciate how wonderful the design of our hands is. Without fully functioning thumbs, I drop things once in a while. Nothing important so far.
While transferring a hot sizzling New York strip steak to my dinner plate I dropped in into an open jar of Skippy Peanut Butter. Peannut butter??? Don't ask.
 I had an appointment with my arthritis Dr. about the arthritis flare. He agreed to write an RX for methotrexate if the arthritis gets too bad before I start Taltz.
That Dr. believes that Taltz will be beneficial for the arthritis as well as the psoriasis. He said that latest studies of all biologics are showing arthritis benefits
as well as healing psoriasis.
More later,
Phil

[Caroline]

There is quite a difference between Stelara and Taltz.
Stelara binds on interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 and Taltz binds on IL-17A, just like Cosentyx.
As we already see the very positive results of Cosentyx, reported here on the forum, it does make sense that Taltz is also doing well.

IL-17A is a protein, that plays a role in the inflammation, as well as IL-12 and IL-23 are chemicals produced by cells that stimulate inflammation.
Moderating or inhibiting these substances will have effect on the expression of the psoriasis.

[Fred]

There is quite a difference between Stelara and Taltz.
Stelara binds on interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 and Taltz binds on IL-17A, just like Cosentyx.
As we already see the very positive results of Cosentyx, reported here on the forum, it does make sense that Taltz is also doing well.

IL-17A is a protein, that plays a role in the inflammation, as well as IL-12 and IL-23 are chemicals produced by cells that stimulate inflammation.
Moderating or inhibiting these substances will have effect on the expression of the psoriasis.

That is a good point as they do target different IL's, but I suppose they had to test it against Stelara as it is the best performer and it's competition "Coesentyx" is still a new kid on the block itself.

[mataribot]

The loading dose is significantly different than Stelara. These new biologics use more than what is necessary at the start and less to maintain. So of course there results are initially better.