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Comparison of Secukinumab Versus Guselkumab in Clearing Psoriatic Plaques Refractory to Ustekinumab

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Chronic Plaque-type Psoriasis
Interventions
Procedure: Skin biopsies
Registration Number
NCT03553823
Lead Sponsor
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Brief Summary

The aim of this study was to describe the effect of direct IL-17A inhibition with secukinumab as compared with the selective inhibition of IL-23 with guselkumab (p19 subunit blocker) in controlling inflammation in psoriatic plaques that remain active despite treatment with the non-selective IL-23 inhibitor ustekinumab (blocker of p40 subunit, shared by IL-12 and IL 23).

Detailed Description

This was a 16-week, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, active-control, Phase 2a study comparing secukinumab 300 mg s.c. versus guselkumab 100 mg s.c. in subjects with plaque psoriasis who had an inadequate response to ustekinumab. Forty subjects will be randomized 1:1 and treated for 16 weeks. In each patient, a target active refractory skin plaque (TCS ≥6) is described and biopsied at baseline and at study end. The objective of the study was to assess the superiority of secukinumab over guselkumab in achieving clear/almost clear status (TCS 0-2) of the target plaques; and to describe the molecular mechanisms behind this difference

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria

Chronic plaque-type psoriasis considered inadequately controlled after treatment with ustekinumab according to the following criteria-:

  • Ustekinumab administered at a dose equal or higher than that on the label for at least 24 weeks. The last administration must be at least 12 weeks before randomization
  • absolute PASI score of 1-10 at Screening
  • Presence of at least 1 refractory skin plaque, defined by a TCS of at least 6 and severity score of at least 2 or 3 (moderate) for each individual item, with an area ≥ 10 cm2 at screening.
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Forms of psoriasis other than chronic plaque-type (e.g., pustular, erythrodermic and guttate psoriasis) at Screening or Baseline
  • Drug-induced psoriasis (i.e., new onset or current exacerbation from beta-blockers, calcium channel inhibitors or lithium) at Baseline
  • Previous treatment with more than one TNFα inhibitor or with IL-17A (including secukinumab), IL-17R or IL-23 (including guselkumab) inhibitors
  • Use of other investigational drugs within 4 weeks before enrolment, or within a period of 5 half lives of enrollment/initiation of the study treatment, whichever is longer
  • Ongoing use of prohibited treatments (see Section 6.2.2)
  • Known immunosuppression (e.g., AIDS) at Screening
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
secukinumabSkin biopsies20 subjects with plaque psoriasis with an inadequate response to ustekinumab self-administered 300 mg secukinumab as two 150-mg s.c. injections at Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 and then every 4 weeks until Week 12 inclusive
GuselkumabSkin biopsies20 subjects with plaque psoriasis with an inadequate response to ustekinumab self-administered guselkumab as 100 mg s.c. injections at Baseline, Weeks 4, and 12.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of Subjects Whose Plaque Achieves "Clear" or "Almost Clear" Status (TCS = 0-2)16 week

Total clinical score: number (%) of subjects who responded at Week 16 (FAS)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Novartis Investigative Site

🇩🇪

Selters, Germany

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