Outcomes of COVID-19 and Vaccination in Patients With Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis Treated With Tralokinumab.

This case series describes the outcomes of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with atopic dermatitis who have been treated with tralokinumab.

Ixekizumab treatment and the impact on SF-36: results from three pivotal phase III randomised controlled trials in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

PURPOSE: To assess improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with ixekizumab treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. METHODS: Adults with plaque psoriasis were enrolled in phase III, double-blind, randomised, controlled trials (UNCOVER-1, UNCOVER-2, or UNCOVER-3). All 3 protocols included a 12-week, placebo-controlled induction period; UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3 also had an active-control group (50 mg etanercept) during induction. After induction, patients in UNCOVER-1 and UNCOVER-2 entered a 48-week withdrawal (maintenance) period (Weeks 12-60), during which Week-12 sPGA (0,1) responders were rerandomized to receive placebo, or 80 mg ixekizumab every 4 weeks (Q4W) or 12 weeks. As a secondary objective, HRQoL was measured by the generic Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36) at baseline and Weeks 12 and 60. Changes in mean SF-36 Physical and Mental Component Summary (PCS and MCS) and domain scores and proportions of patients reporting improvements ≥ minimal important differences in SF-36 scores were compared between groups. RESULTS: At Week 12, ixekizumab-treated patients (both dose groups in UNCOVER-1, -2, and -3) reported statistically significantly greater improvements in mean SF-36 PCS and MCS and all 8 SF-36 domain scores versus placebo. Further, more ixekizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients reported at least minimal treatment responses in SF-36 PCS and MCS scores and domain scores. Overall improvements in SF-36 PCS and MCS scores were maintained through Week 60. CONCLUSIONS: Ixekizumab-treated patients reported statistically significant improvements in HRQoL at 12 weeks that persisted through 1 year.

Methods for Imputing Missing Efficacy Data in Clinical Trials of Biologic Psoriasis Therapies: Implications for Interpretations of Trial Results.

BACKGROUND: An issue in long-term clinical trials of biologics in psoriasis is how to handle missing efficacy data. This methodological challenge may not be understood by clinicians, yet can have a significant effect on the interpretation of clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE Evaluate the effects of different data imputation methods on apparent secukinumab response rates.

METHODS: Post hoc analyses were conducted on efficacy data from 2 phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind trials (FIXTURE and ERASURE) of secukinumab in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Per study protocols, missing data were imputed using strict non-response imputation (NRI), a highly conservative method that assumes non-response for all missing data. Alternative imputation methods (observed data, last observation carried forward [LOCF], modified NRI, and multiple imputation [MI]) were applied in this analysis and the resultant response rates compared.

RESULTS: Response rates obtained with each imputation method diverged increasingly over 52-weeks of follow-up. Strict NRI response estimates were consistently lower than those using the other methods. At week 52, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 rates for secukinumab 300 mg based on strict NRI were 9.2% (FIXTURE) and 8.7% (ERASURE) lower than estimates obtained using the least conservative method (observed data). Estimates obtained through LOCF and modified NRI were closest to those produced by MI, currently regarded as the most methodologically sophisticated approach available.

CONCLUSION: Awareness of differences in assumptions and limitations among imputation methods is necessary for well-informed interpretation of trial data.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2017;16(8):734-742.

Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: Results of a phase III, randomized, controlled trial (Efficacy and Safety Trial Evaluating the Effects of Apremilast in Psoriasis [ESTEEM] 1).

BACKGROUND: Apremilast works intracellularly to regulate inflammatory mediators. OBJECTIVE: ESTEEM 1 evaluated efficacy/safety of apremilast at 30 mg twice a day for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. METHODS: This phase III, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomized adults (2:1) to apremilast or placebo. At week 16, the placebo group switched to apremilast through week 32, followed by a randomized treatment withdrawal phase to week 52. Binary end points were analyzed using χ(2) test; continuous end points used analysis of covariance. RESULTS: In all, 844 patients were randomized (n = 282, placebo; n = 562, apremilast). At week 16, significantly more patients taking apremilast achieved 75% or greater reduction from baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI-75) (33.1%) versus placebo (5.3%, P < .0001; primary end point). Most (61.0%) patients rerandomized to apremilast at week 32 achieved PASI-75 at week 52 versus 11.7% rerandomized to placebo. Of patients rerandomized to apremilast at week 32, mean percentage change from baseline PASI score was -88% to -81% (weeks 32-52). During the placebo-controlled period, 55.7% and 69.3% of patients randomized to placebo and apremilast, respectively, had 1 or more adverse events. Most adverse events were mild/moderate in severity. No new significant adverse events emerged with continued apremilast exposure versus the placebo-controlled period. LIMITATIONS: Data were limited to 52 weeks and may not generalize to nonplaque psoriasis. CONCLUSIONS: Apremilast was effective in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

The 5-point Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) Scale: A modified tool for evaluating plaque psoriasis severity in clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate new psoriasis treatments, clinicians, regulators and pharmaceutical developers require well-accepted, clinically meaningful measures of disease severity. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score is most widely used as a primary endpoint in clinical trials, although it is not routinely used in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: Characterize a 5-point Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) tool and evaluate whether it meets the needs for a valid, clinically meaningful measure. METHODS: A 5-point IGA tool was developed with input from regulatory authorities and clinical trial investigators involved with psoriasis drug development and evaluation. Associations between IGA 0/1 responder rates and PASI scores were evaluated using data from two phase 2 studies with the anti-interleukin (IL)-17A monoclonal antibody secukinumab (AIN457) that utilized a similar 6-point IGA. RESULTS: The 5-point IGA has a more stringent definition for a score of 1 ("almost clear") compared with 6-point IGA/Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) tools used in previous trials of other biologics in moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Whereas IGA/PGA 0/1 responder rates for earlier scales are strongly associated with PASI 75, the IGA 0/1 rate for the secukinumab 6-point scale was more robust, demonstrating a strong association with PASI 90, and the results for the 5-point IGA are expected to show the same association. DISCUSSION: The 5-point IGA is a valid measure of disease severity and meets the need for a clinically meaningful measure of success for psoriasis treatment studies.

Calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate gel compared with tacalcitol ointment and the gel vehicle alone in patients with psoriasis vulgaris: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the efficacy and safety of once daily treatment of Daivobet®/Dovobet® gel in patients with psoriasis vulgaris, relative to tacalcitol ointment and the gel vehicle alone. METHODS: 458 patients with at least moderately severe disease were randomized in 3 treatment arms for an 8-week period. Treatment was investigator blinded, and treatment success was defined as patients with an Investigator's Global Assessment of 'clear' or 'almost clear' at week 8. RESULTS: The proportion of patients who were 'clear or almost clear' was significantly higher in the 2-compound gel group (39.9%) compared with 17.9% in the tacalcitol group and 5.5% in the gel vehicle group: p < 0.001 in both comparisons. The proportion of patients with at least 1 adverse drug reaction was significantly lower in the 2-compound gel group compared to the other 2 treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Once-a-day treatment with the 2-compound Daivobet/Dovobet gel is a safe and efficacious therapeutic regimen for individuals with psoriasis on the body.

Temporary tattoos to simulate skin disease: report and validation of a novel teaching tool.

PURPOSE: Dermatology is a visual specialty requiring examination and description of skin lesions and the development of analytic skills to establish a diagnosis. Student education in dermatology is challenged by several factors. Although 10% to 15% of a general practitioner's consultations are related to the skin, dermatology is often underrepresented in undergraduate medical curriculums. In addition, more serious lesions, such as malignant melanoma (MM), are promptly biopsied and may not be available for students' examination. The authors carried out this study to learn whether a novel educational tool, a temporary tattoo, could successfully simulate an MM. METHOD: Eighty-one dermatologists and 14 dermatology residents participated in this validity study of a tattoo applied to the arm of a standardized patient (SP) to simulate an MM. The study was conducted at the 82nd Annual Canadian Dermatology Association Conference held in June 2007 in Toronto, Canada. RESULTS: A correct diagnosis was made by 93.8% (76/81) of the dermatologists and 90.5% of the participants (86/95) overall. The tattoo was also evaluated as being very realistic on a five-point Likert scale. CONCLUSIONS: The validation of the tattoo shows potential for use in medical education, such as SP visits and examinations. This teaching tool can be used to simulate a variety of skin lesions, providing a way to visually examine a lesion on the skin of an SP, which would enhance the medical student's learning experience.

Sustained efficacy and safety of pimecrolimus cream 1% when used long-term (up to 26 weeks) to treat children with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory condition affecting up to 20% of children. Here, we report the long-term extension study of previously published pivotal phase III studies with pimecrolimus cream 1%. Two identical, 26-week studies (6-week, double-blind, followed by 20-week, open-label phases) were conducted in children aged 2 to 17 years with atopic dermatitis. Pooled efficacy and safety analyses were performed. At day 43, 34.8% pimecrolimus-treated patients versus 18.4% in the vehicle group (p < 0.001) were clear/almost clear (Investigators' Global Assessment 0/1) of disease, with significant differences (p < 0.05) between treatment groups for all double-blind visits in all parameters. Pimecrolimus was significantly more effective (based on the Eczema Area and Severity Index) in treating the face and neck versus the rest of the body (p < 0.0001) and versus vehicle (p < 0.0001) in the double-blind phase. Disease control was sustained in the pimecrolimus group throughout the whole study. Patients treated with vehicle during the double-blind phase experienced rapid, marked improvement when switched to pimecrolimus in the open-label phase. The incidence of adverse events was low and comparable between treatment groups. In conclusion, pimecrolimus cream 1% is effective and well tolerated in the long-term control of children with mild to moderately severe atopic dermatitis.

Targeting the interleukin-12/23 cytokine family in the treatment of psoriatic disease.

Psoriasis is a complex systemic immune inflammatory disease whose burden of disease includes poorer quality of life, a high prevalence of serious comorbidities, and a potentially decreased life span-hence the continued need to search for new treatment options. ABT-874 (Abbott Laboratories, Saint-Laurent, QC,) and ustekinumab (CNTO 1275, Ortho Biotech, Toronto, ON) are two monoclonal antibodies against interleukins 12 and 23 (IL-12/23), key mediators of T-cell differentiation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The results of a 12-week, phase II, dose-finding study of ABT-874 have been encouraging. More recently, level 1 evidence has emerged for ustekinumab in two placebo-controlled phase III trials, PHOENIX 1 and PHOENIX 2; therapeutic responses to ustekinumab have been maintained up to 76 weeks of follow-up, and quality of life has significantly improved with ustekinumab. Both agents produced few and mild adverse events, and the rates of serious infections and cancers were very low and similar to those of placebo. These promising results strongly confirm the central role of IL-12/23 in psoriasis and its importance as a therapeutic target.

The diagnostic accuracy of in vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy compared to dermoscopy of benign and malignant melanocytic lesions: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of melanoma at an early, curable stage is an important challenge for clinicians. Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) is a high-resolution, noninvasive technology that may facilitate improved diagnostic accuracy over clinical examination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CSLM compared to dermoscopy in a prospective examination of benign and malignant melanocytic lesions. METHODS: 125 patients with suspicious pigmented lesions were prospectively recruited to undergo a clinical, dermoscopic and CSLM examination. A diagnosis was made preoperatively with each technique, and the lesion was then excised and diagnosed using histopathology. RESULTS: 125 patients with 125 lesions were studied comprising 88 melanocytic nevi and 37 melanomas. Dermoscopy had a sensitivity of 89.2%, a specificity of 84.1%, a positive predictive value of 70.2% and a negative predictive value of 94.9%. CSLM was found to have a sensitivity of 97.3%, a specificity of 83.0%, a positive predictive value of 70.6% and a negative predictive value of 98.6%. No melanomas were misidentified when both techniques were used together. CONCLUSIONS: CSLM had a relatively higher sensitivity than dermoscopy; however, the specificity was similar with CSLM and dermoscopy. These results suggest that dermoscopy and CSLM are complementary.

An update on the safety and tolerability of pimecrolimus cream 1%: evidence from clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance.

In this report, we review the data on the safety and tolerability of pimecrolimus cream 1% (Elidel) from clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance in patients with atopic dermatitis. These data demonstrate that topically applied pimecrolimus is minimally absorbed through the skin and has a favourable safety margin. The most common treatment-related adverse events are transient local reactions, particularly skin burning (16.1 and 12.9 events per 1,000 patient-months of follow-up in adults and children, respectively). When compared to the vehicle, the use of pimecrolimus cream 1% is associated with an increased incidence of herpes simplex virus infections in children (relative risk: 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-5.8; p = 0.017). However, pimecrolimus cream 1% does not increase the incidence of any skin infection in comparison with moderately potent topical corticosteroids and lacks other corticosteroid-related side effects such as skin atrophy. While cases of malignancy have been reported in patients who have used pimecrolimus cream 1%, there is no clinical evidence to establish that treatment with pimecrolimus cream 1% increases the risk of malignancy.

Clinical Experience Acquired with Raptiva (CLEAR) trial in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results from extended treatment in an international, Phase III, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-treatment (FT) CLEAR trial period demonstrated the efficacy/safety of efalizumab in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, including refractory or contraindicated patients unsuitable for other systemic treatments. This study assessed the efficacy/safety of open-label extended treatment (up to 24 weeks' continuous treatment) in patients not achieving > or =75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI-75) at week 12 of the FT period. Time to relapse after treatment cessation, and efficacy/safety of 12 weeks' open-label re-treatment in patients achieving PASI-75 at week 12 FT were also assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with PASI-75 at week 12 FT were observed without treatment until relapse, then re-treated with open-label efalizumab (1.0 mg/kg/week for 12 weeks). Others received open-label extended treatment without intervening observation. RESULTS: Among efalizumab-treated patients (n = 308) who had < 75% PASI improvement at week 12 FT, extended treatment led to PASI-75 in 26.6%. Among patients with between > or = 50 and < 75% PASI improvement at week 12 FT (n = 118), 47.5% improved to PASI-75 with extended treatment. For patients achieving PASI-75 at week 12 FT (n = 164), median time to relapse was 58 days. Re-treatment after relapse led to mean PASI improvement of 62.3% from study baseline (n = 145). Safety results were consistent with previous studies, with no new safety concerns. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate additional benefit of continuing efalizumab. Re-treatment re-established disease control in patients with PASI-75 who relapsed following treatment cessation. The safety profile remained consistent with that seen at 12 weeks.

A review of malignancies observed during efalizumab (Raptiva) clinical trials for plaque psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic, incurable immune-mediated disease. Most therapies used for moderate to severe psoriasis are immunosuppressive. Agents that depress immune function, including traditional psoriasis therapies, have been associated with an increased incidence of malignancies. Efalizumab is a recombinant monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody approved for use in psoriasis patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence of malignancy in patients receiving efalizumab during clinical trials compared with placebo-treated patients, psoriasis patients from external cohorts and the general US population. METHODS: Patient data were pooled from multiple phase III placebo-controlled, open-label efalizumab clinical trials, and the incidence rate of reported malignancies was calculated as a function of patient years of observation. The results for the efalizumab-treated patients were compared with the data on psoriasis patients from insurance claims databases and a registry of events in the general population. RESULTS: The efalizumab- and placebo-treated patients had similar incidence rates of malignancy, including lymphoproliferative disease, solid tumor, malignant melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. The incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, in patients receiving efalizumab or placebo was elevated relative to the external databases. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that efalizumab treatment does not increase a patient's risk for malignancy. The difference observed with nonmelanoma skin cancer may be due to biases introduced by the clinical trial methodology. Additional patient observation is necessary to ascertain whether a link exists between efalizumab therapy and nonmelanoma skin cancer above that normally observed in psoriasis patients.

Mycosis fungoides presenting as pigmented purpuric dermatitis.

Mycosis fungoides, a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, typically presents as indolent, progressive, and persistent erythematous patches or plaques with mild scaling and over time can evolve into tumor stage with tumor nodules. Other presentations include eczematous, psoriasiform, poikilodermatous, and hypopigmented patches. We report Mycosis fungoides in a 14-year-old boy presenting as pigmented purpuric dermatitis and review the relevant literature. This is a rare presentation of a condition that is uncommon in the pediatric population. In our patient, histologic features were typical of Mycosis fungoides presenting as pigmented purpuric dermatitis. The clinical features, pathology, molecular biology, and the relationship between these two entities are discussed.

In vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy of benign lentigines: comparison to conventional histology and in vivo characteristics of lentigo maligna.

BACKGROUND: An important challenge facing clinicians is recognizing and distinguishing benign pigmented lesions from cutaneous melanoma. Lentigines are a type of benign pigmented lesion that can resemble melanoma. Physician diagnostic accuracy is less than perfect, prompting research into noninvasive technology such as reflectance mode in vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). OBJECTIVES: Our aims were twofold: to describe the in vivo characteristics of benign lentigines with reflectance CSLM and to compare them with histopathology; and to contrast the in vivo CSLM differences of lentigines, lentigo maligna, and lentigo maligna melanomas. METHODS: Patients with a suspect pigmented lesion were prospectively recruited to undergo CSLM before biopsy. Lentigo simplex, solar lentigo, or malignant melanoma, lentigo maligna type, were included in the study. Images were qualitatively described and compared with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: Ten patients, whose lesions included 6 lentigines and 4 lentigo malignas, were examined with CSLM. Distinct architectural and cytologic features were noted in benign lentigines compared with melanomas. The most striking finding in lentigines was observed at the dermoepidermal junction. In all cases of lentigines there was an increase in the density of dermal papillae surrounded by a bright monomorphic layer of cells. Distinct patterns were noted, as these papillae assumed irregular geometric shapes or formed papillary projections with a rim of bright, highly refractile, monomorphic, and cytologically benign-appearing cells. These findings were absent in all of the melanomas studied. Lentigines had an absence of atypical melanocytes, whereas the melanomas had bright, atypical, polymorphous cells present in a pagetoid pattern with coarse, branching dendrites observed throughout the epidermis. LIMITATIONS: This is a descriptive pilot study involving a limited number of patients. CONCLUSION: Unique CSLM characteristics of lentigines were found that have not been previously described, facilitating rapid in vivo discrimination from malignant melanoma. This descriptive study supports the further examination of CSLM features of lentigines to aid in the diagnosis of melanoma and discrimination from benign lesions.