Guselkumab improves quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, Study says

The study is published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease requiring long-term therapy. Hence, K. Reich and colleagues from the Translational Research in Inflammatory Skin Diseases, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany carried out the present study with the objective to evaluate physician- and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) through week 252 in VOYAGE 1 and VOYAGE 2.

A total of 1829 patients were randomized at baseline to receive guselkumab 100 mg every-8-weeks, placebo, or adalimumab; placebo patients crossed-over to guselkumab at week 16. Adalimumab patients crossed-over to guselkumab at week 52 in VOYAGE 1, and randomized-withdrawal/retreatment occurred at weeks 28-76 in VOYAGE 2; all patients then received open-label guselkumab through week 252.

Efficacy and HRQoL endpoints were analyzed through week 252. Safety was monitored through week 264.

The following results were observed-

a. The proportions of patients in the guselkumab group who achieved clinical responses at week 252 in VOYAGE 1 and VOYAGE 2, respectively, were: 84.1% and 82.0% (PASI90); 82.4% and 85.0% (IGA0/1); 52.7% and 53.0% (PASI100); and 54.7% and 55.5% (IGA0).

b. HRQoL endpoints were achieved as follows: 72.7% and 71.1% of patients (Dermatology Life Quality Index 0/1 or no effect on patient's life); 42.4% and 42.0% (Psoriasis Symptoms and Signs Diary [PSSD] symptom score=0); and 33.0% and 31.0% (PSSD sign score=0).

c. In VOYAGE 2 only, approximately 45% of patients achieved ≥5-point reduction in SF-36 Physical/Mental component scores and 80% reported no anxiety/depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scores <8).

d. Similar findings were reported for adalimumab crossovers.

e. These effects were maintained from week 52 in VOYAGE 1 and week 100 in VOYAGE 2.

f. No new safety signals were identified.

Therefore, the authors concluded that "Guselkumab maintains high levels of clinical response and PRO improvement through 5 years in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis."