Ixekizumab (Taltz, Eli Lilly) has a marketing authorisation, alone or in combination with methotrexate, 'for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapies'.
160 mg by subcutaneous injection (2×80 mg injections) at week 0, followed by 80 mg (1 injection) every 4 weeks thereafter.
For patients with concomitant moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, the recommended dosing regimen is 160 mg by subcutaneous injection (2×80 mg injections) at week 0, followed by 80 mg (1 injection) at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, then maintenance dosing of 80 mg (1 injection) every 4 weeks.
Consideration should be given to stopping treatment in patients whose disease has shown no response after 16 to 20 weeks of treatment. Some patients with initial partial response may subsequently improve with continued treatment beyond 20 weeks.