If you wish to report an adverse event or product complaint, please call 1-800-LILLYRX (1-800-545-5979)
Taltz ® (ixekizumab) injection
80 mg/mL
This information is provided in response to your request. Resources may contain information about doses, uses, formulations and populations different from product labeling. See Prescribing Information above, if applicable.
Can Taltz® (ixekizumab) be used for the treatment of genital psoriasis?
Seventy-three percent of patients treated with the recommended plaque psoriasis dosing regimen of ixekizumab achieved clear or almost clear genital skin at week 12. The safety profile of ixekizumab in IXORA-Q was consistent to previous studies.
IXORA-Q Clinical Trial Information
- A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (IXORA-Q) evaluated the safety and efficacy of ixekizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe genital psoriasis (GP).1
- Appendix A: Clinical Trial Brief Description briefly describes the IXORA-Q trial design.
- The objective of the clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of ixekizumab vs placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe GP during 12 weeks of treatment.1
- Key inclusion criteria included
- male or female patients at least 18 years of age
- chronic plaque psoriasis for at least 6 months
- plaque psoriasis in a non-genital area
- static Physician Global Assessment of Genitalia (sPGA-G) ≥3
- static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA) ≥3
-
body surface area involvement ≥1%, and
- failure to respond or intolerance to at least 1 topical therapy for GP (corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, or vitamin D analogues).1,2
- The gated primary endpoint was the proportion of patients at week 12 that achieved clear or minimal psoriasis severity in the genital region [sPGA-G (0,1)], including
- The major gated secondary endpoints included at week 12, the proportion of patients that
- achieved overall sPGA (0,1)
- experienced at least a 3-point improvement in genital psoriasis itch numeric rating scale (NRS) (a component of genital psoriasis symptom scale (GPSS) total score), and
- achieved a genital psoriasis sexual frequency questionnaire (GenPs-SFQ) item 2 score of 0 or 1.1
IXORA-Q Results
Efficacy
- IXORA-Q: sPGA-G (0,1) Response Rate Over 52 Weeks, NRI presents sPGA-G (0,1) response rate for the combined 12-week blinded treatment period and open-label treatment periods.
- In the blinded treatment period, the percentage of patients achieving clear or almost clear genital skin was significantly greater for ixekizumab as early as week 1.1
- IXORA-Q: Efficacy Results at Week 12 and Week 52, Ixekizumab Combined Blinded and Open-Label Periods, NRI provides additional efficacy results. No analyses other than those listed in IXORA-Q Clinical Trial Information were gated.1
Figure 1 description: In the IXORA-Q clinical trial, patients were initially randomized to receive either a placebo or ixekizumab every 2 weeks for the first 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the treatment protocol was adjusted. Those who had been receiving a placebo were switched to ixekizumab every 4 weeks. Of these patients, at the end of week 52, 79% achieved a static Physicians Global Assessment of Genitalia score of 0 or 1. In comparison, patients who had been receiving ixekizumab every 2 weeks were also switched to ixekizumab every 4 weeks. Among this group, 75% achieved a static Physicians Global Assessment of Genitalia score of 0 or 1.
Abbreviations: IXE Q2W = ixekizumab every 2 weeks; IXE Q4W = ixekizumab every 4 weeks; NRI = nonresponder imputation; PBO = placebo; sPGA-G = static Physicians Global Assessment of Genitalia.
† p<.01 vs PBO.
‡ p<.001 vs PBO.
Week 12 |
Week 52 |
|||
|
PBO |
IXE Q2W |
PBO/IXE Q4W |
IXE Q2W/IXE Q4W |
sPGA-G (0,1) |
6 (8) |
55 (73)a |
51 (79) |
56 (75) |
sPGA-G (0) |
4 (5) |
42 (56)a |
38 (59) |
45 (60) |
sPGA (0,1) |
2 (3) |
55 (73)a |
48 (74) |
54 (72) |
sPGA (0) |
0 |
30 (40)a |
29 (45) |
35 (47) |
Number of subjects with baseline GPSS Itch NRS Score ≥3 |
N=60 |
N=62 |
N=51 |
N=62 |
GPSS genital itch (≥3 Point Improvement) |
5 (8) |
37 (60)a |
35 (69) |
45 (73) |
Number of subjects with baseline GenPs-SFQ Item 2 Score ≥2 |
N=42 |
N=37 |
N=35 |
N=37 |
GenPs-SFQ (Item 2 score 0 or 1) |
9 (21) |
29 (78)a |
27 (77) |
28 (76) |
Abbreviations: GenPs-SFQ = Genital Psoriasis Sexual Frequency Questionnaire; GPSS = Genital Psoriasis Symptoms Scale; IXE Q2W = ixekizumab every 2 weeks; IXE Q4W = ixekizumab every 4 weeks; NRI = nonresponder imputation; NRS = numeric rating scale; PBO = placebo; sPGA = static Physician Global Assessment; sPGA-G = static Physician Global Assessment of Genitalia.
Data are presented as n (%) unless otherwise specified.
ap<.001 vs PBO.
Time to Improvement
In a post hoc analysis of data from IXORA-Q, patients who were originally randomized to ixekizumab in the double-blind treatment period and entered the open-label treatment period had rapid improvements in
- genital skin
- genital itch resolution
- the impact of GP on frequency of sexual activity, and
- quality of life.6
The improvements in GP and quality of life were sustained through week 52.6
Time to Improvement of Genital Psoriasis Outcomes in IXORA-Q in the Open-Label Treatment Population shows the median times to improvement of these outcomes.
Outcome |
Median (95% CI), Days |
Time to first sPGA-G (0,1) |
26 (16, 35) |
Time to first sPGA-G (0) |
59 (56, 86) |
Genital itch NRS improvement ≥4-point reductiona |
59 (34, 115) |
Genital itch NRS=0b |
50 (34, 73) |
GenPs-SFQ Item 2 (0,1)c |
22 (10, 28) |
DLQI (0,1) |
88 (81, 167) |
Abbreviations: DLQI = Dermatology Life Quality Index; GenPs-SFQ = Genital Psoriasis Sexual Frequency Questionnaire; NRS = numeric rating scale; sPGA-G = static Physician Global Assessment of Genitalia.
aIn those patients with genital itch NRS ≥4 at baseline.
bIn those patients with genital itch NRS ≥1 at baseline.
cIn those patients with GenPs-SFQ Item 2 ≥2 at baseline.
Effect on Secondary Lesions, Pain, and Sexual Health
A post hoc analysis of data from IXORA-Q evaluated the effect of ixekizumab over 12 weeks on GP severity, pain, itch, and sexual health in those patients with or without genital erosions, fissures, or ulcers at baseline (n=57; 38% of study population).7
Among those patients with genital erosions, fissures, or ulcers at baseline in IXORA-Q, 62% of patients who received ixekizumab and 25% of patients who received placebo had complete resolution of these signs after one week. After 12 weeks, 83% of patients who received ixekizumab and 21% of patients who received placebo reported complete resolution of these signs.7
Compared with placebo, a significantly greater proportion of patients who received ixekizumab achieved a sPGA-G (0,1) response rate regardless of the presence or absence of genital erosions, fissures, and/or ulcers at baseline (p<.01 vs placebo in patients with these signs; p<.001 vs placebo in patients without these signs). The sPGA-G (0,1) response rates for patients who received ixekizumab were similar regardless of the presence or absence of genital erosions, fissures, and/or ulcers at baseline.7
Regardless of baseline presence or absence of genital erosions, fissures, and/or ulcers, compared with placebo, patients who received ixekizumab had a significantly greater improvement over 12 weeks of treatment in
- sPGA-G score (p<.0001 with or without baseline signs)
- modified Genital Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (mGPASI) score (p<.0001 with or without baseline signs)
- GPSS total score (p<.001 with baseline signs; p=.01 without baseline signs)
- GPSS sum of pain, stinging, and burning (p<.001 with baseline signs; p=.008 without baseline signs), and
- GPSS itch NRS (p<.002 with baseline signs; p<.001 without baseline signs).7
Compared with placebo, a significantly greater proportion of patients who received ixekizumab achieved GenPs-SFQ item 2 (0,1) response regardless of presence or absence of genital erosions, fissures, and/or ulcers (p<.01 with baseline signs; p<.001 without baseline signs).7
Safety
- Overall, during the 12-week blinded treatment period of IXORA-Q, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred more frequently in the ixekizumab group (56%) than placebo (45%), but were not statistically significantly different between treatment groups.1
- IXORA-Q: TEAEs Reported During the 12-Week Blinded Treatment Period and All Ixekizumab Exposures Through Week 52 lists the severity of TEAEs and TEAEs of special interest reported through week 12 for the placebo-controlled, blinded treatment period as well as the safety overview for all patients receiving at least 1 dose of ixekizumab in the blinded treatment period or the open-label treatment period through week 52. The authors concluded the safety outcomes of ixekizumab in IXORA-Q were consistent with the overall safety profile for ixekizumab from previous studies.1,2,8
12-Week Blinded Treatment Period |
Through 52 Weeks |
||
PBO |
IXE Q2W |
All IXEa |
|
Overall TEAEs |
33 (45) |
42 (56) |
107 (76) |
Mild |
15 (20) |
23 (31) |
41 (29) |
Moderate |
15 (20) |
18 (24) |
58 (41) |
Severe |
3 (4) |
1 (1) |
8 (6) |
SAE |
1 (1) |
0 |
8 (6) |
Discontinuations due to AE |
5 (7) |
1 (1) |
3 (2) |
TEAEs of special interest |
|||
Hepatic |
2 (3) |
0 |
3 (2) |
Cytopenias |
0 |
0 |
1 (1) |
Infections |
13 (18) |
18 (24) |
75 (54) |
Candidiasis |
0 |
0 |
7 (5) |
Allergic reactions/hypersensitivities |
3 (4) |
4 (5) |
14 (10) |
Injection-site reactions |
2 (3) |
8 (11) |
23 (16) |
Cerebrocardiovascular events |
0 |
0 |
2 (1) |
Malignancies |
0 |
0 |
3 (2) |
Depression |
2 (3) |
0 |
5 (4) |
Inflammatory bowel disease |
0 |
0 |
1 (1) |
Abbreviations: AE = adverse event; IXE = ixekizumab; IXE Q2W = ixekizumab every 2 weeks following a 160 mg starting dose; PBO = placebo; SAE = serious adverse event; TEAE = treatment-emergent adverse event.
aIncludes patients who received ≥1 dose of ixekizumab during the blinded treatment period or open-label treatment period.
Enclosed Prescribing Information
References
The published references below are available by contacting 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979).
1Ryan C, Menter A, Guenther L, et al; the IXORA‐Q Study Group. Efficacy and safety of ixekizumab in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase IIIb study of patients with moderate-to-severe genital psoriasis. Br J Dermatol. 2018;179(4):844-852. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjd.16736
2Ryan C, Menter A, Guenther L, et al. Efficacy and safety of ixekizumab in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 3b clinical trial in patients with moderate-to-severe genital psoriasis. Poster presented at: 26th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV); September 13-17, 2017: Geneva, Switzerland.
3Guenther L, Potts Bleakman A, Weisman J, et al. Ixekizumab results in persistent clinical improvement in moderate-to-severe genital psoriasis during a 52 week, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 clinical trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(1):adv00006. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3353
4Taltz [package insert]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 2022.
5Data on file, Eli Lilly and Company and/or one of its subsidiaries.
6Merola JF, Guenther L, Foley P, et al. Speed of improvement in genital psoriasis, genital itch, sexual impact, and health-related quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe genital psoriasis treated with ixekizumab. Poster presented at: 2020 American Academy of Dermatology Virtual Meeting Experience; June 12-14, 2020.
7Merola JF, Ghislain PD, Dauendorffer JN, et al. Ixekizumab improves secondary lesional signs, pain and sexual health in patients with moderate-to-severe genital psoriasis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(6):1257-1262. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jdv.16181
8Guenther L, Potts Bleakman A, Weisman J, et al. Persistent clinical improvement in genital psoriasis through one year of treatment with ixekizumab: results of a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial in patients with moderate-to-severe genital psoriasis (IXORA-Q). Poster presented at: 77th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology; March 1-5, 2019; Washington, DC
Appendix A: Clinical Trial Brief Description
Figure 2 description: In the IXORA-Q clinical trial, patients were initially randomized to receive either a placebo or ixekizumab every 2 weeks for the first 12 weeks (blinded treatment period). After 12 weeks, the treatment protocol was adjusted for the next 40 weeks. Those who had been receiving a placebo were switched to ixekizumab every 4 weeks and those who had been receiving ixekizumab every 2 weeks were also switched to ixekizumab every 4 weeks (open-label treatment period).
Abbreviations: IXE = ixekizumab; IXE Q2W = ixekizumab every 2 weeks; IXE Q4W = ixekizumab every 4 weeks; PBO = placebo.
a Given as two 80 mg subcutaneous injections at week 0. Patients assigned to PBO received 2 subcutaneous injections of PBO at week 0.
b Option to step up to IXE Q2W at weeks 24, 28, and 40.
c At week 12, patients in the IXE Q2W group received 1 dose of ixekizumab 80 mg and 1 dose of placebo; patients in the PBO group received 2 doses of ixekizumab 80 mg.
Date of Last Review: January 03, 2024