Treatment of psoriasis with interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the efficacy and safety of interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody (IL-12/23 mAb) on psoriasis.

Methods: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified by systematic literature searches in MEDLINE, OVID, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and the metaRegister of Controlled Trials. The efficacy outcomes and adverse effects of included RCTs were critically assessed.

Results: A total of 3365 participants in 5 multicenter RCTs were included. The RRs of most efficacy outcomes showed significant differences between i) IL-12/23 mAb and placebo at week 12/16; ii) IL-12/23 mAb and etanercept at week 12; iii) IL-12/23 mAb in high dose and IL-12/23 mAb in low dose at week 24/28. Increasing treatment times did not obviously provide additional benefit to efficacy improvement. The adverse events of IL-12/23 mAb were similar to those of controls. Antibodies to IL-12/23 mAb were mostly undetected or shown at low titer. Treatment with IL-12/23 mAb did not influence related biochemical markers.

Conclusions: IL-12/23 mAb was effective in the treatment of psoriasis on skin lesions, health-related quality of life and psoriatic arthritis in the short-term. The increase in treatment time points was not associated with additional efficacy and dose-dependence was observed with the ongoing treatment up to week 24/28. The adverse effects were minimal and tolerable.