Safety and Efficacy of guselkumab in Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Ascending Dose Study

Summary

Background

The Interlukin-23 (IL-23)/Interlukin-17 (IL-17) pathway is central in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The favourable efficacy and safety of guselkumab, an IL-23 specific monoclonal antibody, has been demonstrated in global Phase 3 studies of plaque psoriasis.

Objectives

To evaluate the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of a single-dose subcutaneous guselkumab in Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods

Patients with ≥ 10% of total body surface area (BSA) involvement and a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) ≥12 were randomised (5:1) to receive guselkumab or placebo in 4 cohorts of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose, single-centre study. Safety, pharmacokinetics, and clinical response were monitored at baseline and specific time points over a 24-wk follow-up period.

Results

Through week 24, 54% (11/20) of guselkumab patients and 50% (2/4) of placebo patients experienced ≥1 adverse event (AE). No deaths, serious AEs, or AEs leading to treatment discontinuation were reported. Maximum clinical response was seen at week 16 with PASI 75 response in 2/5 (10 mg), 4/5 (30 mg and 300 mg), and 3/5 (100 mg) patients and PASI 90 in 0/5 (10 mg), 3/5 (30 mg), 2 /5 (100 mg) and 3/5 (300 mg) patients. Mean C_max and AUC_∞ values increased in a dose-proportional manner with mean terminal t_1/2 of 15.6-17.6 days and median t_max of 4-6 days.

Conclusions

Guselkumab was generally well-tolerated and exhibited sustained high levels of clinical response in Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

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