Effective and Safe Treatment of Psoriatic Disease with the Anti-IL-23p19 Biologic Tildrakizumab: Results of a Real-World Prospective Cohort Study in Nonselected Patients

BACKGROUND: After registration of drugs, evidence about efficacy and safety is solely based on data of phase 2/3 clinical trial programs. A major drawback is the selection of patients following inclusion/exclusion criteria. There is a considerable time and knowledge gap between study and registry data that evaluate real-world evidence (RWE). To close this gap, prospective cohort data are helpful. OBJECTIVES: Soon after tildrakizumab, an interleukin 23p19-inhibitor, was registered for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, a prospective single-center cohort study was established to evaluate efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab in daily practice. METHODS: Following approval of tildrakizumab, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis eligible for systemic treatment were included into the Kiel Tildra Cohort (KTC) and followed using routine assessments of efficacy, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), body surface area (BSA), dermatology life quality index (DLQI), itch (visual analog scale), and safety. Data of the KTC were compared to the respective phase 3 clinical trials. RESULTS: The KTC included 150 patients differing substantially from those in the trial program. There was a high rate of previous systemic (87.3%) and biologic (31.8%) therapy and of comorbidity in the KTC as compared to the phase 3 studies. Due to the best practice approach, baseline PASI was lower in the KTC, but DLQI was similar in both groups. At the time of this analysis, 126 patients completed week 28, 92 patients week 52, and 58 patients week 76, respectively. There was a constant improvement in PASI, BSA, DLQI, and itch from baseline until week 76. There was no clinically meaningful laboratory abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated in routine practice with tildrakizumab differed substantially from the phase 3 studies. Despite systemic pre-treatment and increased comorbidity, tildrakizumab showed comparable efficacy and safety in the KTC. Prospective cohort studies are a suitable tool to generate RWE before registry data become available.