Introduction: Psoriasis (PSO) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disorder that significantly influences patients' quality of life. The prevalence of PSO among children varies depending on the age and ranges from 0.12% at one year to 2% at 18 years. Due to systemic inflammation, PSO is associated with obesity, hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, and cardiovascular incidences.Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody selectively targeting IL-17A. The drug has been approved for children aged 6-18 with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Nevertheless, only a few reports thoroughly describe its efficacy and safety in the pediatric population.
Areas covered: This review aims to describe the efficacy and safety of secukinumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque PSO in pediatric patients aged six years and older.
Expert opinion: Although there are only two clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of secukinumab in the pediatric population with plaque PSO, this therapy seems to be a significant advancement in managing those patients. Both dose regimens (depending on the weight, low-dose, 75/75/150 mg, and high-dose 75/150/300 mg) of secukinumab were more effective in achieving significant clinical improvement (PASI 75/90 and IGA response) than placebo or active-comparator. Both regimens showed good safety and tolerability profiles, with mostly mild AEs and no SAEs observed.
Keywords: Biologics; IL-17; children; pediatric population; plaque psoriasis; psoriasis; secukinumab.