Efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab for plaque psoriasis with continuous dosing, treatment interruption, dose adjustments and switching from etanercept: results from phase III studies

BACKGROUND: Chronic psoriasis may require medication adjustments over time.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy/safety of tildrakizumab in subgroups from the reSURFACE studies (N = 1862) that received continuous dosing, higher/lower dosing, treatment interruption/reinitiation and initiation.

METHODS: Responders [Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) ≥ 75%] and partial responders (PASI ≥ 50% to < 75%) in Part 3 of the reSURFACE studies (weeks 28-52 or week 64) who received tildrakizumab 200 mg or 100 mg were rerandomized to the same dosage (T100/T100 or T200/T200), a higher/lower dosage (T100/T200 or T200/T100) or placebo (PBO) (T100/PBO or T200/PBO). Patients receiving PBO who relapsed were reinitiated to tildrakizumab. Etanercept (ETN) week-28 partial responders and nonresponders (PASI < 50%) received tildrakizumab 200 mg (ETN/T200).

RESULTS: Among T100/T100 and T200/T200 week-28 partial responders, the proportion of patients who achieved as-observed PASI 75 responses increased over time. Among T100/T200 week-28 partial responders, PASI 75 responses increased from week 32 (38·5%) to week 52 (63·2%) and remained consistent in T200/T100 week-28 responders. Among patients who relapsed in the T100/PBO and T200/PBO groups, 86% and 83% of those who reinitiated tildrakizumab achieved PASI 75 by week 64, respectively. Among ETN/T200 week-28 partial responders, PASI 75 responses (nonresponder imputation) increased from week 32 (24·1%) to week 52 (74·7%). PASI 90, PASI 100 and Physician's Global Assessment responses were consistent with PASI 75 results. Treatment was well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients generally fared well with tildrakizumab maintenance, reinitiation, dose adjustment or initiation. What's already known about this topic? Tildrakizumab demonstrated significant efficacy vs. placebo with a positive safety profile during the first 28 weeks of treatment in two randomized double-blind trials. What does this study add? Treatment scenarios with tildrakizumab, such as long-term continuous dosing (up to 64 weeks), treatment interruption/reinitiation and switching from another biologic, can be part of the management of plaque psoriasis with a reasonable expectation of efficacy and tolerability.