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Bimekizumab, which has activity against interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F, was compared in a randomized trial with secukinumab, which has activity against interleukin-17A only. Over 48 weeks, treatment with bimekizumab resulted in greater clearance of psoriasis but was associated with oral candidiasis.

Antibodies targeting interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-17A effectively treat moderate-to-severe psoriasis. ECLIPSE is the first comparator study of an IL-23p19 inhibitor, guselkumab, versus an IL-17A inhibitor, secukinumab. The primary objective of this study was to show superiority of clinical response at week 48 for guselkumab versus secukinumab. In this phase 3, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, comparator-controlled trial at 142 outpatient clinical sites in nine countries (Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and the USA), eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, had moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis, and were candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. Eligible patients were randomly assigned with permuted block randomisation using an interactive web response system to receive either guselkumab (100 mg at weeks 0 and 4 then every 8 weeks) or secukinumab (300 mg at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, and then every 4 weeks). The primary endpoint, the proportion of patients in the intention-to-treat population who achieved 90% reduction or more from baseline of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90 response) at week 48, and major secondary endpoints (the proportions of patients in the guselkumab group and in the secukinumab group who achieved a PASI 75 response at both weeks 12 and 48, a PASI 90 response at week 12, a PASI 75 response at week 12, a PASI 100 response at week 48, an Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA] score of 0 [cleared] at week 48, and an IGA score of 0 or 1 [minimal] at week 48) were to be tested in a fixed sequence to control type I error rate. Safety was evaluated in patients who received one or more doses of study drug from week 0 to 56. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03090100. This study was done between April 27, 2017, and Sept 20, 2018. 1048 eligible patients were enrolled and, of these, 534 were assigned to receive guselkumab and 514 to receive secukinumab. The proportion of patients with a PASI 90 response at week 48 was greater in the guselkumab group (451 [84%]) than in the secukinumab group (360 [70%]; p<0·0001). Although non-inferiority (margin of 10 percentage points) was established for the first major secondary endpoint (452 [85%] of patients in the guselkumab group vs 412 [80%] of patients in the secukinumab group achieving a PASI 75 response at both weeks 12 and 48), superiority was not established (p=0·0616). Consequently, formal statistical testing was not done for subsequent major secondary endpoints. Proportions of patients with adverse events, infections, and serious adverse events were similar between the two treatments and, in general, safety findings were consistent with registrational trial observations. Guselkumab showed superior long-term efficacy based on PASI 90 at week 48 when compared with secukinumab for treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis. This finding could assist health-care providers in their decision making process when selecting a biologic for treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis. This study was funded by Janssen Research & Development.

In three phase 3 trials, ixekizumab, an anti–IL-17A monoclonal antibody, was effective in the treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Adverse events included neutropenia, candida infections, and inflammatory bowel disease. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is mediated by aberrant immune responses and driven by self-perpetuating cytokine networks. 1 , 2 Advances in understanding the pathogenic cytokine network of psoriasis have led to the development of new treatments 3 – 5 that provide greater efficacy in terms of complete skin clearance. 6 – 9 The motivation to completely clear psoriasis plaques from the skin of patients has grown in response to accumulating evidence that residual skin disease can affect a patient’s health-related quality of life 10 – 12 similar to that associated with chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. 13 Ixekizumab, a recombinant, high-affinity, humanized, IgG4-κ monoclonal . . .

There is an unmet need for a treatment for psoriasis that results in complete skin clearance with a reliably quick response. Bimekizumab is a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin (IL)-17F in addition to IL-17A. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab with placebo and ustekinumab in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis over 52 weeks. BE VIVID was a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, active comparator and placebo controlled phase 3 trial done across 105 sites (clinics, hospitals, research units, and private practices) in 11 countries in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. Adults aged 18 years or older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] score ≥12, ≥10% body surface area affected by psoriasis, and Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA] score ≥3 on a five point scale) were included. Randomisation was stratified by geographical region and previous exposure to biologics; patients, investigators, and sponsors were masked to treatment assignment. Patients were randomly assigned (4:2:1) using an interactive response technology to bimekizumab 320 mg every 4 weeks, ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg (baseline weight-dependent dosing) at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks, or placebo every 4 weeks. At week 16, patients receiving placebo switched to bimekizumab 320 mg every 4 weeks. All study treatments were administered as two subcutaneous injections. Coprimary endpoints were the proportion of patients with 90% improvement in the PASI (PASI90) and the proportion of patients with an IGA response of clear or almost clear (score 0 or 1) at week 16 (non-responder imputation). Efficacy analyses included the intention-to-treat population; safety analysis included patients who received at least one dose of study treatment. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03370133 (completed). Between Dec 6, 2017, and Dec 13, 2019, 735 patients were screened and 567 were enrolled and randomly assigned (bimekizumab 320 mg every 4 weeks n=321, ustekinumab 45 mg or 90 mg every 12 weeks n=163, placebo n=83). At week 16, 273 (85%) of 321 patients in the bimekizumab group had PASI90 versus 81 (50%) of 163 in the ustekinumab group (risk difference 35 [95% CI 27–43]; p<0·0001) and four (5%) of 83 in the placebo group (risk difference 80 [74–86]; p<0·0001). At week 16, 270 (84%) patients in the bimekizumab group had an IGA response versus 87 (53%) in the ustekinumab group (risk difference 30 [95% CI 22–39]; p<0·0001) and four (5%) in the placebo group (risk difference 79 [73–85]; p<0·0001). Over 52 weeks, serious treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 24 (6%) of 395 patients in the bimekizumab group (including those who switched from placebo at week 16) and 13 (8%) of 163 in the ustekinumab group. Bimekizumab was more efficacious than ustekinumab and placebo in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The bimekizumab safety profile was consistent with that observed in previous studies. UCB Pharma.

The interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F monoclonal antibody bimekizumab led to a higher incidence of clearance of psoriasis lesions than the anti-TNF drug adalimumab over a period of 16 weeks but was associated with oral candidiasis.

Summary Background Apremilast, a small-molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4, works intracellularly to modulate proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediator production, and doses of 20 mg twice daily have shown efficacy in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in a 12-week phase 2 study. We assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of different doses of apremilast in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Methods In this phase 2b, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study, patients (aged ≥18 years) with moderate to severe psoriasis were randomly assigned (in a 1:1:1:1 ratio) to receive oral placebo or apremilast 10, 20, or 30 mg twice daily at 35 US and Canadian sites between Sept 24, 2008, and Oct 21, 2009. At week 16, patients in the placebo group were assigned apremilast 20 or 30 mg twice daily until week 24. Randomisation was generated with a permuted-block randomisation list via interactive voice response system. For the first 16 weeks, treatment assignment was concealed from both investigators and participants. During weeks 16–24, investigators and participants all knew that treatment was active, but the dose was concealed. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving at least 75% reduction from baseline psoriasis area and severity index (PASI-75) at week 16. Analyses were by intention to treat; missing values were imputed by last-observation-carried-forward. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00773734. Findings 89 patients were randomly assigned apremilast 10 mg, 87 apremilast 20 mg, and 88 apremilast 30 mg twice daily; 88 were assigned placebo. At week 16, PASI-75 was achieved in five patients (6%) assigned placebo, ten (11%) assigned apremilast 10 mg, 25 (29%) assigned 20 mg, and 36 (41%) assigned 30 mg. Apremilast 10 mg did not differ significantly from placebo in achievement of the endpoint (odds ratio 2·10; 95% CI 0·69–6·42); for both apremilast 20 mg (6·69; 2·43–18·5; p<0·0001) and apremilast 30 mg (11·5; 4·24–31·2; p<0·0001), the differences from placebo were significant. Most adverse events (96%) were mild or moderate; at least 5% of patients had nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea, nasopharyngitis, headache, arthralgia (placebo), gastroenteritis, or dyspepsia. Eight serious adverse events occurred (three each, placebo and apremilast 20 mg; two, apremilast 30 mg); none were judged to be related to apremilast. Apremilast had no apparent effect on the results of haematological, urinalysis, immunological or inflammation, serum chemistry, or electrocardiographic tests. Interpretation Apremilast, given orally at 20 or 30 mg twice daily, seems to be efficacious, safe, and tolerable for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Our results support continuing, longer-term studies. Funding Celgene Corporation.

Summary Background Ustekinumab, a human monoclonal antibody against interleukins 12 and 23, has shown therapeutic potential for psoriasis. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in psoriasis patients and assessed dosing intensification in partial responders. Methods In this multicentre, phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 1230 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis (defined by a psoriasis area and severity index [PASI] score ≥12, and at least 10% total body surface area involvement) were randomly assigned to receive ustekinumab 45 mg (n=409) or 90 mg (n=411) at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks, or placebo (n=410). Partial responders (ie, patients achieving ≥50% but <75% improvement from baseline in PASI) were re-randomised at week 28 to continue dosing every 12 weeks or escalate to dosing every 8 weeks. Both randomisations were done with a minimisation method via a centralised interactive voice response. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving at least 75% improvement in PASI (PASI 75) at week 12. Analyses were by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00307437. Findings All randomised patients were included in the efficacy analysis. 273 (66·7%) patients receiving ustekinumab 45 mg, 311 (75·7%) receiving ustekinumab 90 mg, and 15 (3·7%) receiving placebo achieved the primary endpoint (difference in response rate 63·1%, 95% CI 58·2–68·0, p<0·0001 for the 45 mg group vs placebo and 72·0%, 67·5–76·5, p<0·0001 for the 90 mg group vs placebo). More partial responders at week 28 who received ustekinumab 90 mg every 8 weeks achieved PASI 75 at week 52 than did those who continued to receive the same dose every 12 weeks (22 [68·8%] vs 11 [33·3%]; difference in response rate 35·4%, 95% CI 12·7–58·1, p=0·004). There was no such response to changes in dosing intensity in partial responders treated with ustekinumab 45 mg. During the placebo-controlled phase, 217 (53·1%) patients in the 45 mg group, 197 (47·9%) in the 90 mg group, and 204 (49·8%) in the placebo group experienced adverse events; serious adverse events were seen in eight (2·0%) patients in the 45 mg group, five (1·2%) in the 90 mg group, and eight (2·0%) in the placebo group. Interpretation Although treatment with ustekinumab every 12 weeks is effective for most patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, intensification of dosing to once every 8 weeks with ustekinumab 90 mg might be necessary to elicit a full response in patients who only partially respond to the initial regimen. Funding Centocor Inc.

Type 1 cytokines are overexpressed in psoriatic plaques. This trial evaluated a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 in patients with psoriasis. Response rates at 12 weeks were significantly higher in patients treated with interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody than in those treated with placebo. Four percent of patients who received interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody and 1% of those who received placebo had serious adverse events. Larger studies of longer duration are needed to assess the effectiveness and safety of interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody for psoriasis. In patients with psoriasis, response rates at 12 weeks were significantly higher in those treated with interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody than in those treated with placebo. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting 2 to 3% of the world's population. 1 , 2 Psoriasis affects the physical and emotional well-being of patients, and its effect on quality of life is similar to that seen with other major medical diseases. 3 Significant unmet need remains for safe, highly effective, and convenient treatments. Aberrant type 1 immune responses have been linked to the pathogenesis of psoriasis, 4 – 7 and cytokines that elicit these immune responses (e.g., interleukin-12 and interleukin-23) may represent appropriate therapeutic targets. 8 Interleukin-12 p40 is overexpressed in psoriasis plaques, 9 and preclinical studies implicate this cytokine in the pathogenesis of . . .