Treatment Effective for Pediatric Plaque Psoriasis in Open-Label Study 

Secukinumab was efficacious and well tolerated in pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis at 12 weeks, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

“Psoriasis affects 0.13% to 2.1% of children and adolescents,” wrote an international research team in the study background. “Despite a high unmet need, the current treatment options approved for pediatric psoriasis are limited.”

The investigation was a phase 3, open-label, multicenter trial that evaluated efficacy and safety of secukinumab in pediatric patients ages 6 through 17 years with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Participants were randomized by weight and disease severity to one of two secukinumab dosage regimens: low dose (75/75/150 mg) or high dose (75/150/300 mg). The study did not have a control arm.

At week 12, both low-dose and high-dose secukinumab were superior to historical placebo for Psoriasis Area and Severity Index assessment of 75% (PASI 75) and 90% reductions (PASI 90) as well as for Investigator’s Global Assessment of 0 or 1 responses, according to the study.

Investigator’s Global Assessment of 0 or 1 response rates were 78.6% with low-dose secukinumab and 83.3% with high-dose secukinumab. PASI 90 response rates were 69% with low-dose secukinumab and 76.2% with high-dose secukinumab. PASI 75 response rates were 92.9% for both doses.

“The estimated probability of a positive treatment effect (ie, log odds ratio >0) for low- or high-dose secukinumab compared to historical placebo is 1 (ie, 100%),” researchers reported.

Reference: 
Magnolo N, Kingo K, Laquer V, et al. A phase 3 open-label, randomized multicenter study to evaluate efficacy and safety of secukinumab in pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: 24-week results. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;86(1):122-130. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.08.066