FDA approves Taltz to treat plaque psoriasis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Taltz (ixekizumab), which is designed for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a condition of the skin that causes patches of redness and flaking. The disease is considered an autoimmune disorder that is common amongst patients with a family history of psoriasis. The age range when it begins is between the ages of 15 and 35. The most common type of the disease is plaque psoriasis, where patients develop thick, red skin with silver-white, flaky scales.

The approval of Taltz provides another treatment option for patients suffering from plaque psoriasis, and also will help with the skin irritation and discomfort resulting from the condition. Taltz’s most prominent ingredient is the antibody known as ixekizumab, which joins with the interleukin (IL)-17A protein that causes inflammation. Once it binds to the protein, the antibody hinders the inflammatory response that is key in the development of plaque psoriasis.

Taltz is administered to patients by injection and was designed for patients who are candidates for systemic therapy, phototherapy or both. The safety and effectiveness of Taltz was determined by three clinical trials.