Risankizumab is a humanized IgG1
monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin-23 by specifically targeting the
p19 subunit. It is also called BI 655066 or ABBV-066. There are quite a
lot of competing compounds targeting IL-23 or IL-17 to treat psoriasis and
psoriatic arthritis [PsA]. The market for psoriatic arthritis is much smaller
than for rheumatoid arthritis, but any new drug is welcome, because some
patients who do not get better on a galore of drugs will just do fine on the
next biologic. Risankizumab is tested in Crohn's disease, psoriasis, and
psoriatic arthritis [1].
K.A. Papp and colleagues published this study [2] in the New England
Journal of Medicine: “Risankizumab versus Ustekinumab for Moderate-to-Severe
Plaque Psoriasis”. They could conclude: “In this phase 2 trial, selective
blockade of interleukin-23 with risankizumab was associated with clinical
responses superior to those associated with ustekinumab. […]”
Risankizumab appeared at the 2017 ACR Annual
Meeting in San Diego with just one study in the late breaking section. P.J.
Mease and colleagues presented [3]: “Efficacy and Safety Results from a Phase 2
Trial of Risankizumab, a Selective IL-23p19 Inhibitor, in Patients with Active
Psoriatic Arthritis”. Patients were stratified into groups of 20-40 to look at
different dosages of risankizumab (RZB). “ACR20 responses were
significantly greater in pts receiving RZB (across all arms, 57.1–65.0%)
compared with PBO (37.5% …)”. Conclusion: “In this Phase 2 study, RZB
significantly improved joint and skin symptoms in pts with active PsA. RZB was
well-tolerated with no new or unexpected safety findings.”
It doesn’t mean that we have a new drug, but in a few years we might
have a new drug against psoriatic arthritis and maybe then also against
ankylosing spondylitis. There have to be some phase 3 studies before getting
approval by FDA and EMA, but my guess is that AbbVie is planning to go for
approval of risankizumab in different indications. Let’s wait.
Links:
[3] Mease PJ,
Kellner H, Morita A, Kivitz AJ, Papp KA, Aslanyan S, Berner B, Chen K, Eldred
A, Behrens F. Efficacy and Safety Results from a Phase 2 Trial of Risankizumab,
a Selective IL-23p19 Inhibitor, in Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis
[abstract]. Arthritis
Rheumatol. 2017; 69 (suppl 10). http://acrabstracts.org/abstract/efficacy-and-safety-results-from-a-phase-2-trial-of-risankizumab-a-selective-il-23p19-inhibitor-in-patients-with-active-psoriatic-arthritis/.
Accessed March 8, 2018.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment