Biologics in Psoriasis: The Next Generation

Alefacept (Amevive) and efalizumab (Raptiva) initiated the biologic era in the treatment of psoriasis. Low efficacy for Amevive (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 of 21-42 percent) and serious adverse events associated with Raptiva (namely progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) impeded their widespread adoption and use.

Enter the second-generation tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) inhibitors including etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen), adalimumab (Humira, Abbvie), and infliximab (Remicade, Janssen). These drugs provided consistent responses (PASI 75 of 51-71 percent) with known risk factors including increased infections, non-melanoma skin cancer potential, exacerbation of congestive heart failure (CHF), and/or demyelinating diseases. Etanercept is FDA-approved for moderate to severe psoriasis in patients ages four and up. Adalimumab is still a gold standard for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and is one the easiest biologics to procure via insurance. Infliximab is still used to treat cases that do not respond to subcutaneous treatment.

Next up were the IL-17 blockers including secukinumab (Cosentyx, Novartis), ixekizumab (Talz, Lilly), and brodalumab (Siliq, Ortho Dermatologics). PASI 75 ranges from 75-92 percent with these therapies. There are concerns of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and in the case of Siliq, suicidal ideation. By contrast, there are no concerns of CHF, demyelination, nor have increased opportunistic infections (i.e tuberculosis, histoplasmosis) been reported with IL-17 blockers.

The IL-23 Evolution

Ustekinumab (Stelara, Janssen) was the precursor to IL-23 therapy. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody to the p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23, both released from activated dendritic cells. IL-12 differentiates and induces the colonization of Th1 cells, increasing TNF and Interferon gamma, whereas IL-23 differentiates and induces the colonization of Th17 cells, increasing IL-17 and IL-22. As it turns out, however, IL-17 and IL-22 have a more direct downstream and selective effect on the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Therefore, rather than blocking IL-17, IL-23 inhibition takes advantage of the subunits that differentiate it from IL-12. IL-23 is composed of two subunits: a p40 (identical to IL-12) and a unique p19 subunit.

The IL-23 monoclonal antibodies’ mechanism of action is based on binding the p19 subunit of IL-23 and thus inhibiting the differentiation and colonization of Th17 cells. This inhibition diminishes the excessive production of IL-17 and IL-22.

The Fourth Generation

Now, let’s do a deeper dive into the fourth generation of biologics, the IL-23 monoclonal antibodies (although I prefer to call them p19 inhibitors): gesulkamab (Tremfya, Janssen), tildrakizumab (Ilumya, Sun Dermatology), the soon to be introduced risankizumab (BI 655066, Abbvie), and mirikizumab (Lilly), which is in Phase 3 development and could be FDA approved in 2020.

Tremfya is a human monoclonal antibody that binds the p19 subunit of IL-23, the first p19 inhibitor to be FDA approved. It is administered subcutaneously at 100mg on weeks 0 and 4 and then every eight weeks. At week 16, PASI 75, 90, and 100 for Tremfya was 90 percent, 70 percent, and 40 percent, respectively, compared to 70 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent with Humira. At week 16, 60 percent of those subjects who did not achieve PASI 90 on Humira did obtain PASI 90 on Tremfya. In addition, 33 percent of subjects who did not achieve PASI 90 on Stelara obtained PASI 90 on Tremfya. Fifty percent of the subjects who obtained PASI 90 on Tremfya and discontinued Tremfya maintained their response for six months. Ninety percent of subjects who obtained PASI 90 at week 28 maintained efficacy for at least three years. Adverse events noted were upper respiratory infection (URI) and nasopharyngitis. There was no cumulative toxicity during the three-year period in terms of malignancy and serious infections. Moreover, there were no signals for IBD, tuberculosis, opportunistic infections, demyelination, major adverse cardiac events or CHF.¹ There are no boxed warnings associated with Tremfya.

Ilumya is a humanized IgG1k monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to the IL-23 p19 subunit. It is administered as 100mg subcutaneously at weeks 0 and 4 and then every 12 weeks. At week 12, PASI 75, 90, 100 was 64 percent, 35 percent and 14 percent, respectively. At week 28, 74 percent of subjects were PASI 75 responders, of which 91 percent maintained their response through week 128. Of the 71 percent PASI 90 responders at week 28, 95 percent maintained response through week 148. The most common adverse events were URI (14 percent), injection site reactions (three percent), and diarrhea (two percent). Rates of these AEs were 12 percent, two percent, and one percent, respectively, with placebo. Three-year cumulative exposure-adjusted rate of adverse events of interest included severe infections (placebo 1 percent, Ilumya 1.14 percent, and etanercept 2 percent); malignancies (placebo 0, Ilumya 0.45 percent, and etanercept 0.65 percent); injection site reactions (placebo 5 percent, Ilumya 2 percent, etanercept 40 percent). There were no reports of IBD, multiple sclerosis, or suicide. Severe infections included sinusitis, erysipelas, gastroenteritis, and urosepsis.²

Risankizumab (BI 655066) is also a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody. It has a different amino acid sequence that binds p19. It is administered at weeks 0 and 4 and then every 12 weeks. In terms of efficacy of risankizumab 150mg subcutaneously at weeks 0 and 4, PASI 90 and 100 was 75 percent and 40 percent, respectively, compared to ustekinumab—45 percent, 20 percent—at week 16. At week 52, risankizumab was associated with PASI 90 and 100 of 80 percent and 57 percent, respectively, while ustekinumab-treated patients reported PASI 90 and 100 of 50 percent and 30 percent. There were fewer adverse events seen with risankizumab than ustekinumab. Moreover, there were no malignancies, deaths, TB, IBD, suicide, or demyelination. The serious infection rate was equal to what was seen with ustekinumab.³

Mirikizumab is an anti-interleukin-23 therapy. It is administered at either 100mg or 300mg subcutaneously at weeks 0 and 4 then every eight weeks. At week 12, PASI 90 was achieved by 59 percent of subjects receiving the 100mg dose and 67 percent of those on the 300mg dose. Of those who do not achieve PASI 90 at week 16, 60 percent captured PASI 90 on the 300mg doseage within 16 more weeks.

A New Era

A new era of treatment with less frequent dosing, higher and more persistent efficacy, and what appears to be a better safety profile bodes well for psoriasis patients. The only question left is how efficacious this fourth generation is going to be for the treatment of PsA.

1. Blauvelt A, et al. “Efficacy and safety of guselkumab, an anti-interleukin-23 monoclonal antibody, compared with adalimumab for the continuous treatment of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis: Results from the phase III, double-blinded, placebo- and active comparator-controlled VOYAGE 1 trial.” (2017).J Am Acad Dermatol. Mar;76(3):405-417.

2. Reich K, et al. Tildrakizumab versus placebo or etanercept for chronic plaque psoriasis (reSURFACE 1 and reSURFACE 2): results from two randomised controlled, phase 3 trials. (2017) Lancet. Jul 15;390(10091):276-288.

3. Papp KA, et al. Risankizumab versus Ustekinumab for Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis. (2017) N Engl J Med. 2017 Apr 20;376(16):1551-1560.