Expert Review Finds Treatment Promising for Pediatric Patients With Plaque Psoriasis

Secukinumab appears to be a promising treatment for children with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, according to findings published in Expert Opinion on Drug Safety.

“Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal IL-17A antibody, which has been approved for use in children with psoriasis,” wrote a research team from the Wroclaw Medical University Department of Dermatology in Poland. “Nevertheless, there are very little data on the safety of this therapy in the pediatric population.”

To better understand the effects of secukinumab in children with plaque psoriasis, the authors conducted an extensive review of available efficacy and safety data. In doing so, they focused closely on adverse effects of the treatment in the patient population.

Despite a paucity of evidence on the long-term safety of the medication in children, researchers wrote, secukinumab therapy appears to be promising in pediatric patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

“Moreover,” they added, “the clinical trials revealed sustained efficiency with respect to reaching PASI 75 [75% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score] and decreasing impact of the disease on quality of life.”

Current data shows no serious adverse events or unexpected events with secukinumab treatment, according to the review, thus confirming a favorable safety profile.

Reference:
Bardowska K, Krajewski PK, Tyczyńska K, Szepietowski JC. Safety evaluation of secukinumab in pediatric patients with plaque psoriasis. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2022;21(7):867-872. doi:10.1080/14740338.2022.2073349