Secukinumab improves scalp pain, itching, scaling and quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis

Abstract

Introduction: Scalp psoriasis adversely affects patients’ lives and is often resistant to treatment; however, it has not been a major focus of a clinical study. This analysis assessed the effect of secukinumab on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) of scalp psoriasis.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study was conducted in 102 adult patients with moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis. Patients were randomized 1:1 to secukinumab 300 mg or placebo. Patients rated their scalp-related pain, itching and scaling using a 0–10 numeric rating scale (higher scores indicate greater severity). Scalp dermatitis-related quality of life (QOL) was assessed at baseline and then every 4 weeks using the Scalpdex. Analysis of covariance models examined PRO effect up to 12 weeks.

Results: Baseline scalp pain, itching and scaling mean (SD) values were 3.1 (3.00), 6.7 (2.60) and 7.3 (2.02) and similar for both treatment groups. At week 12, patients treated with secukinumab reported greater reduction in scalp pain (−1.98 vs. 0.61), itching (−4.07 vs. −0.04) and scaling (−5.76 vs. −0.95) as well as greater improvements in Scalpdex total scores (−39.62 vs. −7.91) compared with placebo (all p < .001).

Discussion/Conclusions: Secukinumab in moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis reduces scalp pain, itching, and scaling and improves patients’ QOL.

Keywords:

• Scalp psoriasis
• secukinumab
• symptoms
• patient-reported outcomes
• itching
• pain
• scaling

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the patients and investigators who participated in the study; and E. Evans for medical writing assistance with this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

Dr. Feldman has been a consultant, advisor and/or received speaking fees and/or grants and/or royalties from the following companies: Abbvie, Advance Medical, Amgen, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Caremark, Celgene, Cosmederm, Informa, Galderma, Gerson Lehrman Group, GSK, Guidepoint Global, Hanall Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Informa Healtcare, Janssen, Kikaku, Leo Pharma Inc., Lilly, Merck & Co., Merz Pharmaceuticals, Mylan, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc., Qurient, Stiefel/GSK, Suncare Research, Taro, UpToDate, Xenoport, Xlibris. He is also a stock holder for Causa Technologies and Medical Quality Enhancement Corporation.

Dr. Green has been an investigator, consultant, or speaker to Amgen, Abbvie, Celgene, Leo, Janssen, Novartis, SunPharma, and Valeant.

Dr. Kimball has been an Investigator and consultant to Abbvie and Janssen and has received fellowship funding from Janssen. Consultant to Lilly, BMS, Novartis, UCB, Dermira.

Dr. Alexis has been a consultant, advisor or served as an investigator for the following companies: Allergan Inc., Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., BioPharmX, Dermira, Foamix, Galderma Laboratories LP., J&J, La Roche-Posay, Novan, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Regeneron, Unilever.

Drs. Nyirady, Siu, and Zhao were full-time employees of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at the time of this research.

Dr. Herrera is a full-time employee of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.