FDA approves Taltz for kids with plaque psoriasis

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved ixekizumab (Taltz, Eli Lilly) injection, 80 mg/mL, for use in pediatric patients to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The approval means that the drug is the first interleukin 17A (IL-17A) agent available for use in pediatric patients.

The approval was based on data from a phase 3 study that examined 171 children aged 6 to 17 years who had moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. In a press release for the drug, Jennifer Cather, MD, Modern Research Associates, Dallas, Texas, said, “In the phase 3 pediatric study, half of patients treated with ixekizumab achieved completely clear skin after only 12 weeks of treatment. These results and the subsequent FDA approval make a strong case for Taltz as an effective treatment option for doctors to consider for pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.”

For more on the approval, check out the coverage from Drug Topics, our sister publication.