The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the label update for the medicine Taltz (ixekizumab) 80 mg/mL injection for psoriasis that affects the genital area. You can read the full article here, at PR Newswire.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that leads to red and flaky skin with scales that form in patches. These patches can develop on any area of the body, and some of the most common places are the elbows, head, knees, and lower back. It develops because the process of skin cell replacement, which usually happens every 3-4 weeks, occurs much more frequently in people with psoriasis at a rate of about 3-7 days. Some people experience the condition as a mild irritation, while for others it is severe. Approximately 2% of people are affected by psoriasis, and most first develop it under the age of 35. Patches of psoriasis are often treated with topical medicines, such as topical corticosteroids or vitamin D analogues. For more stubborn or severe areas, people may use phototherapy, and/or oral or injected medicines, depending on the advice of a doctor.
However, there are few treatments available that can be used for the genital area, despite 63% of people with the condition developing psoriasis in this area. The approved label update for Taltz makes it the first medicine that has been approved by the FDA for genital area plaque psoriasis that is moderate to severe. This is a change to the previous indication for the drug to be used on moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis for patients eligible for phototherapy or systemic therapy (two other treatments), which it was originally approved for in 2016 by the FDA. It has also previously been approved for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis. Dr Michael Siegel from the National Psoriasis Foundation says
“This news is a significant step in providing patients with more options for treating their disease.”
