Ixekizumab four-week dosing is comparable to two-week dosing in psoriasis patients and reduces treatment costs: experience in a real-world setting over a 12-week period

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Little is known about different Ixekizumab (IXE) dosing regimens during routine clinical practice. To evaluate the real-world effectiveness and safety of different IXE dosing regimens in patients with psoriasis. This study retrospectively compared patients who were dosed with IXE every two or four weeks (80 mg/week following a starting dose of 160 mg at Week 0). At Weeks 0, 4, and 12, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were recorded, with adverse events also documented. In total, 66 patients were analysed, of whom 30 (45.5%) and 36 (54.5%) were included in the two-week and four-week IXE dosing groups, respectively. In the overall patient cohort, 86.3%, 60.6%, and 31.8% exhibited PASI 75, PASI, 90, and PASI 100 responses at Week 12, respectively. The mean baseline PASI score was 12.4±7.6 and the mean baseline DLQI score was 11.3±6.9, with these values declining rapidly following IXE administration to 1.6±2.4, and 2.6±4.0 at Week 12, respectively. Response rates were elevated in the two-week group as compared to the four-week group at Weeks 4 and 12 of treatment, but these differences were not significant. Adverse events were reported in 25 patients (37.9%), with injection site reactions being most common, followed by infections. IXE is effective and safe in a real-world setting for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Moreover, patients can reduce their medical expenses by choosing a four-week dosing regimen while still attaining therapeutic benefits.