Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Guselkumab, an anti-interleukin-23 biologic therapy, has been shown to significantly reduce disease activity and improve patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) among patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in clinical trials. However, characterization of the real-world effectiveness of guselkumab among patients living in the USA and Canada is warranted. METHODS: Patients who participated in the CorEvitas Psoriasis Registry between 18 July 2017 and 10 March 2020 were included if they met the following criteria: Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score ≥ 3 and body surface area (BSA) ≥ 10% (moderate-to-severe psoriasis), initiated guselkumab at a registry (index) visit, and had a registry follow-up visit after 9-12 months of persistent guselkumab therapy. Data were retrieved for baseline patient demographics and disease characteristics, treatment history, disease activity, and PROMs. Outcomes were assessed at index and follow-up visits; response rates and mean changes were calculated. RESULTS: Among 113 patients, mean age was 49.7 years, mean psoriasis duration was 17.5 years, and 65.5% of patients were biologic experienced. At baseline, mean IGA score was 3.3, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score was 13.6, and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score was 9.6. At follow-up, IGA 0/1, PASI 90, and DLQI 0/1 were achieved by 62.2%, 56.8%, and 54.7% of patients, respectively. Statistically significant improvements were observed in all disease activity scores and PROMs, including the EuroQoL Visual Analogue Scale, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, Patient Global Assessment, fatigue, skin pain, and itch (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This real-world study showed that patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who received 9-12 months of persistent guselkumab therapy experienced improvements in disease severity and PROMs.