NICE recommends Ixekizumab (Taltz) to treat severe plaque psoriasis

Eli Lilly and Company has announced that UK NICE has recommended the usage of Ixekizumab (Taltz) as an option to treat adult patients suffering from severe plaque psoriasis who have responded inadequately to standard systemic therapies.

The recommendation is valid within the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

NICE has also published its final Technology Appraisal Guidance (TAG) for Ixekizumab usage.

Ixekizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds itself with interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and prevents it from interacting with the IL-17 receptor.

In psoriasis, IL-17A protein plays a major role to facilitate the proliferation of skin cells and inflammation.

"Ixekizumab is also licensed to be used in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in the member states of the European Union."

Earlier this month, the Scottish Medicines Consortium published its guidance on the use of ixekizumab by the NHS.

In Scotland, the product is accepted for restricted usage to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis when the patients did not respond to standard systemic therapies such as ciclosporin, methotrexate and phototherapy.

Ixekizumab is also licensed to be used in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in the member states of the European Union.

NICE recommended ixekizumab usage on the basis of the data collected from three randomised double-blinded Phase III clinical trials of ixekizumab that involved around 3,800 patients located across 21 countries.

Psoriasis is an immune condition where the skin replacement process accelerates.

It is estimated that nearly 1.8 million people in the UK are affected by psoriasis, which can affect any part of the body.