Trial of Spesolimab for Generalized Pustular Psoriasis
Mount Sinai researcher shows novel drug significantly improves signs and symptoms of generalized pustular psoriasis—a rare and life-threatening disease
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Mount Sinai researcher shows novel drug significantly improves signs and symptoms of generalized pustular psoriasis—a rare and life-threatening disease
Journal: The New England Journal of Medicine
Paper Title: Trial of Spesolimab for Generalized Pustular Psoriasis
Senior Author: Mark Lebwohl, MD, Dean for Clinical Therapeutics, Professor and Chairman Emeritus of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York
Background about the condition: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, life-threatening skin condition for which there are no approved treatments. It is characterized by episodes of widespread eruptions of painful, sterile pustules (blisters of non-infectious pus). There is a high unmet need for treatments that can rapidly and completely resolve the signs and symptoms of GPP flares. Flares greatly affect a person’s quality of life and can lead to hospitalization with serious complications, including heart failure, renal failure, sepsis, and death.
What is the paper about: A clinical trial showed that spesolimab is a novel, humanized, selective antibody that blocks the activation of the interleukin-36 receptor
(IL-36R), a signaling pathway within the immune system shown to be involved in the pathogeneses of several autoimmune diseases, including generalized pustula
psoriasis. The novel drug demonstrated rapid clearance of pustules in adult patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) experiencing a flare.
The study met the primary endpoint, 54% of patients had no visible pustules after a single dose of spesolimab, compared to 6% receiving a placebo at week one
Bottom Line: Spesolimab is rapidly effective in the majority of patients within one week of its first intravenous infusion for patients suffering from generalized pustular psoriasis.
Why the research is important: Generalized pustular psoriasis is a life-threatening condition that compromises the integrity of the skin. Patients are frequently hospitalized and often die from sepsis or other complications, including renal failure, high output cardiac failure, and electrolyte balances.
Mark Lebwohl, MD, said about the study: Generalized pustular psoriasis is a rare life-threatening condition in which the protective functions of the skin are lost, leaving patients vulnerable to loss of electrolytes, nutrients, and fluids for the skin, causing high output cardiac failure, sepsis, and even death. Until now, other treatments used for this condition have not been reliably effective and are often too slow for a condition that is so dangerous. Spesolimab will hopefully be the first approved treatment in the United States for generalized pustular psoriasis, and we will finally have a reliable, rapidly effective treatment for this devastating disease.
Note: FDA has already granted Priority Review, Breakthrough Therapy Designation, and Orphan Drug Designation for Spesolimab.
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