Secukinumab is effective in treating moderate to severe cases of plaque psoriasis, two studies have found.
The first trial, called Erasure, studied the effects of the treatment on over 4000 people with varying stages of the disease across the world. It found that 81.6% of patients given secukinumab achieved a 75%improvement of psoriasis after 12 weeks, and 69.8% of patients reported an improvement by the sixteenth week. 41.6% of participants in the survey reported that their skin was totally clear by week 16.
Professor Chris Griffiths, foundation professor of dermatology at the University of Manchester, said: 'Psoriasis is a common, life-long debilitating disease, which has a significant impact on the lives of those afflicted by it. Our aim in psoriasis management is to achieve clear skin for our patients. Secukinumab is a significant treatment advance for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis patients.'
The second study, titled Fixture, compared secukinumab to the NICE-recommended treatment for psoriasis, etanercept. It found that patients given secukinumab had an average of 50% improvement after three weeks, nearly twice as quickly as etanercept. The study also reported that secukinumab improved the patients' quality of life significantly in comparison to etanercept.
Helen McAteer, the chief executive of the Psoriasis Association, said: 'Psoriasis can be extremely painful, especially for those who are living with the more moderate to severe forms. For many, the impact on their life is all-consuming and detrimental to their physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing. Our research suggests people want treatments that will reduce the visible elements of psoriasis as well as improve their overall wellbeing. New treatments which achieve this, like secukinumab, will be welcomed by patients.'