Matching‐adjusted indirect comparison of efficacy in patients with moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis treated with ixekizumab vs. secukinumab

Summary Background Head‐to‐head randomized studies comparing ixekizumab and secukinumab in the treatment of psoriasis are not available. Objectives To assess efficacy and quality of life using matching‐adjusted indirect comparisons for treatment with ixekizumab vs. secukinumab. Methods Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) improvement of at least 75%, 90% and 100% and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) 0/1 response rates for approved dosages of ixekizumab (160 mg at Week 0, then 80 mg every two weeks for the first 12 weeks) and secukinumab (300 mg at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, then 300 mg every 4 weeks) treatment were compared using data from active (etanercept and ustekinumab) and placebo‐controlled studies. Comparisons were made using the Bucher (BU) method and two modified versions of the Signorovitch (SG) method (SG total and SG separate). Subsequently, results based on active treatment common comparators were combined using generic inverse‐variance meta‐analysis. Results In the meta‐analysis of studies with active comparators, PASI 90 response rates were 12·7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5·5–19·8, P = 0·0005], 10·0% (95% CI 2·1–18·0, P = 0·01) and 11·2% (95% CI 3·2–19·1, P = 0·006) higher and PASI 100 response rates were 11·7% (95% CI 5·9–17·5, P