Severe psoriasis can be completely cleared with a new drug: Studies

By: Bel Marra Health

Psoriasis, a relatively common skin condition that causes patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales, can be found on various parts of the body. For many people it can be mild, but others experience severe psoriasis, which can cause a great deal of stress and self-confidence problems. Now, three large clinical trials seem to suggest a new drug can completely clear up severe psoriasis, offering hope to those who have been battling the skin condition.
Imagine for a moment what it would be like to live with pain, swelling, heat, and redness on your face, legs, lower back, palms, or the soles of your feet. This is where psoriasis can show up. For some people, the thick, red spots can even appear on genitals and inside the mouth. Now, consider after years of living with such a condition, there is hope thanks to an effective new treatment.
Three large, long-term clinical trials, led by Northwestern Medicine Investigator and professor of dermatology Kenneth Gordon, indicated that 80 percent of people with moderate to severe psoriasis experienced a complete or almost complete recovery from the skin condition with a new drug called ixekizumab. Gordon has reported that the results show “the great majority of responses persist at least 60 weeks”.
It is bad enough that psoriasis is itchy, uncomfortable, and unsightly, but experts say it is also linked to an increased risk of depression, heart disease, and diabetes. Finding effective treatment is important not only for comfort level, but overall good health.
According to those who worked on the clinical trials, the drug ixekizumab neutralizes a pathway in the immune system that promotes psoriasis.
To test the drug, clinicians enrolled close to 4,000 adult patients at more than 100 study sites in 21 countries. Everyone who took part had either moderate or severe psoriasis. Patients received either injections of ixekizumab at various doses or a placebo over a period of more than one year.
The team then assessed whether the ixekizumab reduced the severity of the skin condition compared to the placebo, and also monitored any adverse effects. By about 12 weeks, close to 82 percent of those with psoriasis had their skin condition updated to “minimal” or “clear”. By week 60, between 69 and 78 percent had maintained their improvement.
Just a few years ago, doctors thought complete clearance of this inflammatory disease was impossible. Now they see that based on the trials, they can anticipate 80 percent will have a good response to ixekizumab and about 40 percent will be completely cleared of psoriasis.
Since the results of the clinical trials were announced, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ixekizumab.

http://www.belmarrahealth.com/severe-psoriasis-can-be-completely-cleared-with-a-new-drug-studies/