Short- and long-term safety outcomes with ixekizumab from 7 clinical trials in psoriasis: Etanercept comparisons and integrated data

BackgroundSafety of biologics is important when treating patients with psoriasis.ObjectiveWe sought to determine the safety of ixekizumab in psoriasis.MethodsIntegrated safety data are presented from a 12-week induction period, a 12- to 60-week maintenance period, and from all ixekizumab-treated patients from 7 clinical trials. Exposure-adjusted incidence rates (IRs) per 100 patient-years are reported.ResultsOverall, 4209 patients received ixekizumab (total exposure: 6480 patient-years). During the induction period, the IRs of patients experiencing 1 or more treatment-emergent adverse event (AE) were 251 and 236 among ixekizumab- and etanercept-treated patients, respectively, and for serious AEs was 8.3 in both groups. During maintenance, for ixekizumab, the IRs of treatment-emergent AEs and serious AEs were 100.4 and 7.8, respectively. Among all ixekizumab-treated patients from 7 trials, the IR of Candida infections was 2.5. The IRs of treatment-emergent AEs of special interest (including serious infections, malignancies, major adverse cardiovascular events) were comparable for ixekizumab and etanercept during the induction period.LimitationsAdditional long-term data are required.ConclusionIxekizumab had an acceptable safety profile with no unexpected safety findings during ixekizumab maintenance in psoriasis.