FDA Approves Psoriasis Injection Drug

The US Food and Drug Administration approved ixekizumab (Taltz/Eli Lilly) to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

The active ingredient is an antibody that binds to interleukin-17A, thus inhibiting inflammatory response.

The drug is intended for patients who are candidates for systemic therapy, phototherapy, or a combination of both.

Clinical trials of 3,866 patients showed the drug did better than placebo in clearing skin.

Since the drug involves suppressing an immune response, patients may have a greater risk of infections or allergic or autoimmune conditions, the FDA noted.

Serious allergic reactions and development or aggravation of inflammatory bowel disease have been reported.

Most common side effects in the trials were upper respiratory infections, injection site reactions, and fungal infections.