The aim of this study was to describe the effect of direct IL-17A inhibition with secukinumab as compared with the selective inhibition of IL-23 with guselkumab (p19 subunit blocker) in controlling inflammation in psoriatic plaques that remain active despite treatment with the non-selective IL-23 inhibitor ustekinumab (blocker of p40 subunit, shared by IL-12 and IL 23).

This was a 16-week, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, active-control, Phase 2a study comparing secukinumab 300 mg s.c. versus guselkumab 100 mg s.c. in subjects with plaque psoriasis who had an inadequate response to ustekinumab. Forty subjects will be randomized 1:1 and treated for 16 weeks. In each patient, a target active refractory skin plaque (TCS ≥6) is described and biopsied at baseline and at study end. The objective of the study was to assess the superiority of secukinumab over guselkumab in achieving clear/almost clear status (TCS 0-2) of the target plaques; and to describe the molecular mechanisms behind this difference

Inclusion Criteria:

Chronic plaque-type psoriasis considered inadequately controlled after treatment with ustekinumab according to the following criteria-:

• Ustekinumab administered at a dose equal or higher than that on the label for at least 24 weeks. The last administration must be at least 12 weeks before randomization
• absolute PASI score of 1-10 at Screening
• Presence of at least 1 refractory skin plaque, defined by a TCS of at least 6 and severity score of at least 2 or 3 (moderate) for each individual item, with an area ≥ 10 cm2 at screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Forms of psoriasis other than chronic plaque-type (e.g., pustular, erythrodermic and guttate psoriasis) at Screening or Baseline
• Drug-induced psoriasis (i.e., new onset or current exacerbation from beta-blockers, calcium channel inhibitors or lithium) at Baseline
• Previous treatment with more than one TNFα inhibitor or with IL-17A (including secukinumab), IL-17R or IL-23 (including guselkumab) inhibitors
• Use of other investigational drugs within 4 weeks before enrolment, or within a period of 5 half lives of enrollment/initiation of the study treatment, whichever is longer
• Ongoing use of prohibited treatments (see Section 6.2.2)
• Known immunosuppression (e.g., AIDS) at Screening

Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers, access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations.

This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com

Blinded outcome assessor assessed subjects on each visit for target plaque TCS, PASI, IGA, BSA, ppIGA, PSSI, NAPS.

The terms and conditions of Novartis' agreements with its investigators may vary. However, Novartis does not prohibit any investigator from publishing. Any publications from a single-site are postponed until the publication of the pooled data (ie, data from all sites) in the clinical trial.