It is not clear why these modest results were seen in the joints, perhaps there were too few patients. While this is surprising, Dr. Marzo-Ortega noted that she “wouldn’t put too much weight on” the lack of an enthesis response; these are “fantastic drugs for the skin,” she said. “There is no doubt about it.”
Other findings from the trial included a significant improvement in itch with both ixekizumab regimens versus placebo, as shown by a greater reduction in numerical rating scale scores from baseline to week 24 (–3.4 and –3.5 vs. –1.2; P less than .001).
Significant improvements with ixekizumab versus placebo in patients’ mental and physical health were also seen when data from the Short Form–36 and EQ-5D instruments were analyzed.
There was also evidence that treatment with ixekizumab significantly improved patients’ presenteeism, work productivity, and activity impairment at work when compared against placebo. There was no difference in absenteeism, as measured by changes in Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire–Specific Health Problem scores from baseline to week 24.