Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen has announced results from the Phase III ECLIPSE study, which show superior long-term efficacy of Tremfya (guselkumab) compared with Cosentyx (secukinumab) in adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
According to the data, published in The Lancet, a statistically significantly higher proportion of Tremfya patients achieved a PASI 90 response at Week 48 compared to those taking Cosentyx, and also demonstrate superiority of clinical response at Week 48 based on 90% or better improvement in patients’ Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score compared to baseline.
During the trial, patients were randomised to receive 100mg of Tremfya administered by subcutaneous injection at weeks zero and four, followed by every eight-week dosing; or 300mg of Cosentyx administered by two subcutaneous injections of 150mg at weeks zero, one, two, three and four followed by every four-week dosing.
The study is the first to compare Tremfya and Cosentyx.
Despite availability of advanced therapies, many adults living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis have difficulty maintaining response to treatment. Studies, such as ECLIPSE, that compare efficacy at longer-term end points may help healthcare professionals make more informed decisions for treating psoriasis, a chronic, life-long disease.
In December of last year, the ECLIPSE trial found that Janssen’s selective interleukin (IL)-23 inhibitor was more effective than Cosentyx at reducing the severity and area of the body affected by the condition, with 84.5% of patients achieving at least 90% improvement in their baseline Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score at week 48 compared with just 70% of those taking Cosentyx.
Commenting on the results, study investigator Richard Langley said: “The response-over-time curves show that maximum response rates with Tremfya are achieved after six months and are maintained over time through one year.”
He added that the data “confirm a slightly more rapid onset of response with Cosentyx, but importantly, in a chronic disease like psoriasis, these data provide new insights into comparative longer-term efficacy.”
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid buildup of skin cells causing scaling on the skin’s surface, often with inflammation and redness around the affected areas.
Tremfya was approved in Europe for plaque psoriasis in November last year, while Cosentyx won EU clearance in January 2015.
