Valeant's treatment for plaque psoriasis gets FDA thumbs up for Siliq

More than 50% of patients in three clinical studies who used Siliq achieved total skin clearance within a year.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has announced that the FDA has approved the Biologics License Application (BLA) for Siliq (brodalumab) injection, for subcutaneous use, a monoclonal antibody that targets the IL-17 receptor for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Siliq is indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy and have failed to respond or have lost response to other systemic therapies. Valeant expects to commence sales and marketing of Siliq in the US in the second half of 2017.

"We believe Siliq fulfils a significant unmet medical need, and I am proud of our team's success in developing and bringing to market this treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis," said Joseph C. Papa, Chairman and CEO of Valeant. "We are pleased that Siliq will soon be available to help treat the suffering of adults who live with this debilitating, incurable condition, and further our mission to improve people's lives with our healthcare products."

Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis, a chronic, noncommunicable, skin disease. The disease alters the life cycle of skin cells, causing them to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin. Siliq works by binding to IL-17RA with high affinity, therefore blocking the inflammatory downstream activity of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-17A/F heterodimer and IL-17E. By targeting the IL-17 receptor, Siliq prevents skin cells from accumulating. In three clinical studies that have been completed, more than 50% of patients who used Siliq achieved total skin clearance within a year.

"Siliq is the only product that has demonstrated 100% improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI 100) during clinical trials as a primary endpoint," said Lawrence J. Green, associate clinical professor of Dermatology at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. "As the first IL-17 receptor A blocker that helps stop the proinflammatory cascade that leads to psoriasis, resulting in the normalization of skin inflammation, this is a significant achievement for the many patients who suffer with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Siliq will be a welcomed addition to my treatment armamentarium."

"As one of the millions of people who has lived with the pain and stigma of this lifelong chronic condition, I am thrilled that Siliq will be available as a treatment option for patients suffering with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis," said Tena Brown, CEO of Tenacity Consulting and Patient Advocate. "Achieving total skin clearance is a major factor in improving quality of life for patients with severe plaque psoriasis. I look forward to helping educate physicians and patients about this important and effective new treatment."