Eli Lilly and Company has announced that Taltz® (ixekizumab) met the primary and all major secondary endpoints in the Phase 3b/4 SPIRIT-H2H study, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of Taltz versus Humira®(adalimumab) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who are biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD)-naive.

The SPIRIT-H2H trial is the first completed large head-to-head (H2H) superiority study in active PsA. This open-label, randomized, controlled trial is the first and only H2H study that utilizes on-label dosing for both Taltz and Humira and includes concomitant conventional DMARDs.

At 24 weeks, patients treated with Taltz met the primary endpoint by demonstrating superiority in improving the signs and symptoms of active PsA compared to Humira as measured by the proportion of patients simultaneously achieving at least a 50-percent reduction in disease activity, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR50), as well as complete skin clearance as measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI100). In addition, Taltz met the major secondary endpoints.

Lotus Mallbris, vice president of immunology development at Lilly said, "The positive results from the SPIRIT-H2H trial reinforce that Taltz effectively treats the debilitating joint signs and symptoms of active psoriatic arthritis, while also providing skin clearance. These results provide evidence that Taltz can be used as a first-line biologic treatment for patients with active psoriatic arthritis."

A total of 566 active PsA patients were enrolled in the study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Taltz compared to Humira. Patients with active PsA were randomized to receive Taltz at the approved dose (160-mg starting dose followed by 80 mg every four weeks), or Humira (40 mg every two weeks) for a total of 52 weeks, with the primary analysis conducted at 24 weeks. Patients meeting criteria for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis received the approved dose of Taltz (160-mg starting dose followed by 80 mg every two weeks from Week 2 to Week 12 and every four weeks thereafter) or Humira (80-mg starting dose followed by 40 mg every two weeks, one week after the initial dose).

Philip Mease, Swedish Medical Center/Providence St. Joseph Health and University of Washington said, "In the SPIRIT-H2H trial, Taltz demonstrated superiority in improving active psoriatic arthritis compared to Humira. This study will help raise awareness and better inform conversations between patients and their healthcare providers about treatment options for active psoriatic arthritis."    

In SPIRIT-H2H, the safety profile of Taltz was consistent with previously reported results. No new safety signals were detected.

Lilly plans to submit detailed data from the SPIRIT-H2H study for disclosure at scientific meetings and in peer-reviewed journals in 2019.

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SPIRIT H2H study is a Phase 3b/4, multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study with blinded outcomes assessments evaluating the efficacy and safety of Taltz versus Humira in patients with PsA who are biologic DMARD-naive during a 52-week treatment period.

Taltz is approved for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis. Taltz is also approved to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.