Eli Lilly and Company has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Taltz® (ixekizumab) injection 80 mg/mL for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Taltz should not be used in patients with a previous hypersensitivity reaction, such as anaphylaxis, to ixekizumab or to any of the excipients. Taltz is designed to specifically target IL-17A, a protein that plays a role in driving underlying inflammation in psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic, immune disease that affects the skin. Psoriasis affects approximately 7.5 million Americans, approximately 20 percent of whom have moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the condition and appears as raised, red patches of skin covered with a silvery, white buildup of dead skin cells, which are often painful or itchy.The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, though genetics and environmental factors are known to play a role in the development of the disease.
"Many people living with psoriasis are still looking for a treatment that will successfully manage the magnitude of this disease," said Alex Azar, president, Lilly USA, LLC. "With the approval of Taltz, we are proud to provide patients with a new treatment that may help patients experience virtually or completely clear skin."