Predictors for early response to vunakizumab in plaque psoriasis

Results from a post hoc analysis of a phase III trial (NCT04839016) investigating early response to vunakizumab in 461 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were recently published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment by Yu et al. Early response was defined as achieving ≥50% improvement in the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI 50) by Week 2 of treatment.

Key data: A total of 54.0% of patients achieved early response. Male sex and previous local treatment independently predicted lower possibility of early response (adjusted odds ratios [ORs], 0.558; p = 0.027 and 0.586; p = 0.039, respectively). The proportion of patients with early response was lower in those with previous local treatment vs in those without (71.1% vs 85.4%; p = 0.024). 

Key learning: Early response rate to vunakizumab was 54.0% in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, where female sex and naïve status to local therapy independently predicted early response, which may assist clinicians in identifying patients requiring proactive treatment adjustments.