Guselkumab Goes Head-to-Head With Secukinumab in Plaque Psoriasis Trial

According to results from the ECLIPSE trial, treatment with guselkumab was found to be superior to secukinumab in adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis based on 90% or better improvement in patients’ Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score compared to baseline (PASI 90 response).

In the phase 3 study, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were randomized to receive guselkumab (n=534; dosing regimen: 100mg at weeks 0 and 4 then every 8 weeks), an interleukin (IL)-23 antagonist, or secukinumab (n= 514; dosing regimen: 300mg at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, and then every 4 weeks), an IL-17A inhibitor; the primary end point of the study was the proportion of patients who achieved PASI 90 response at week 48.

Results showed that at week 48, 84% of the guselkumab group had PASI 90 response compared with 70% of the secukinumab group (P <.0001). However, guselkumab was not found to be statistically superior to secukinumab with regard to the proportion of patients who achieved PASI 75 responses at both 12 and 48 weeks (secondary end point; 85% of the guselkumab group vs 80% of the secukinumab group). 

As for safety, the rate of adverse events was found to be similar between the groups. 

The study was funded by Janssen, the manufacturer of Tremfya (guselkumab). Secukinumab is available under the brand name Cosentyx (Novartis).

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