Efficacy and safety of brodalumab in the Korean population for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: A randomized, phase III, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, negatively impacts patients’ quality of life (QoL). This randomized, phase III, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and safety of brodalumab, a human anti‐interleukin‐17 receptor A monoclonal antibody, in Korean patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Coprimary end‐points were the percentage of patients with 75% or more improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) and static Physician’s Global Assessment (sPGA) success (score 0/1) at week 12. Secondary end‐points included the percentage improvement from baseline in PASI score and proportion of patients with PASI 50/75/90/100 responses. QoL was assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Eligible patients were randomized to receive brodalumab 210 mg (N = 40) or placebo (N = 22) every 2 weeks (Q2W) at a 2:1 ratio for 12 weeks. Subsequently, all patients entered an open‐label extension phase and received brodalumab 210 mg Q2W until week 62. At week 12, the proportion of patients who achieved the coprimary end‐points, PASI 75 and sPGA success, was significantly higher in the brodalumab 210 mg Q2W group compared with the placebo group (92.5% vs 0%). At week 12, the mean ± SD percentage improvement in the PASI score was 96.87 ± 6.01% in the brodalumab 210 mg Q2W group, which was maintained until study end (week 64). PASI 50/75/90 responses were achieved by 100% of patients receiving brodalumab 210 mg Q2W at weeks 6, 13, and 24, respectively; PASI 100 was achieved by 82.8% of patients at week 64. Brodalumab treatment rapidly improved DLQI scores. The most common treatment‐emergent adverse events were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infections, tinea pedis, and urticaria. Overall, treatment with brodalumab 210 mg Q2W resulted in a rapid and significant clinical benefit and was well tolerated in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in Korea.