Evaluation of the efficacy of netakimab therapy for psoriasis involving difficult-to-treat sites: A retrospective single-centre study

Introduction . Netakimab is a humanized anti-interleukin-17 monoclonal antibody, approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris. Available data from the literature on the use and efficacy of this drug in the treatment of psoriasis in difficult-to-treat sites are still limited. However, due to resistance of psoriasis involving difficult-to-treat sites to other drugs, netakimab can be regarded as the drug of choice for the treatment of these forms of psoriasis. Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of netakimab in the treatment of psoriasis of difficult localizations. Materials and methods . A total of 50 patients 18 years of age and older with moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris were included in the study. Patients were screened and randomized with a focus on lesions in difficult-to-treat sites, among which patients with vulgar psoriasis that predominantly affected the inguinal, axillary and inframammary folds (inverse psoriasis) accounted for 28% (n = 14), nails (n = 26; 52%), palms and soles (n = 10; 20%). All patients received netakimab therapy for 52 weeks. Results. Among 14 patients with inverse psoriasis, 42.9% of patients achieved PASI 90 (n = 6), and 57.1% achieve PASI 100 (n = 8). Netakimab also allowed 34.6% patients with nail psoriasis to achieve PASI 90 (n = 9), and 65.4% to achieve PASI 100 (n = 17), and 20% and 80% patients with predominant localization on the palms and soles to achieve PASI 90 (n = 2) and 100 (n = 8) respectively. Conclusions. The data presented in the article show that the use of netakimab allows sustained control of the disease and improvement of the quality of life in patients with psoriasis involving difficult-to-treat sites.