Background: This prospective, open-label study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of tildrakizumab plus topical halcinonide ointment in psoriasis patients.
Methods: Adults (age greater than or equal to 18 years) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (body surface area [BSA] greater than or equal to 10%, physician's global assessment [PGA] greater than or equal to 3, psoriasis area severity index [PASI] greater than or equal to 12) received tildrakizumab (100 mg; s.c.) at weeks 0, 4, and 16. Patients with BSA >3% at week 16 received additional halcinonide 0.1% twice daily for 4 weeks (week 20) and were followed for another 4 weeks (week 24); those with BSA less than or equal to 3% were followed to week 24.
Results: Twenty-five patients were enrolled (mean age 52.6 years; 68% male). The proportion of all patients achieving BSA less than or equal to 3% was 52.2% at week 16, 73.7% at week 20 (after 4 weeks of adjunctive halcinonide in patients with BSA >3% at week 16), and 84.2% at week 24 (4 weeks after halcinonide discontinuation). PASI 75 was attained in 60.9% of all patients at week 16, and 73.7% at weeks 20 and 24. In patients adding halcinonide, improvements from baseline in mean BSA, PGA, and PGA x BSA increased from week 16 (55%, 29%, and 64%, respectively) to week 20 (78%, 51%, and 88%, respectively), and were maintained through week 24. Quality of life improved with tildrakizumab monotherapy and further with adjunctive halcinonide. Adverse events (AEs) were infrequent. No serious AEs or discontinuations due to AEs were noted.
Conclusion: Tildrakizumab plus topical halcinonide ointment is safe and effective in controlling psoriasis for patients inadequately responding to tildrakizumab monotherapy.Bagel J, Novak K, Nelson E. Tildrakizumab in combination with topical halcinonide 0.1% ointment for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(8):766-772. doi:10.36849/JDD.6830.