Efficacy and Safety of Recibokibart, an Interleukin-36 Receptor Antibody, in Generalized Pustular Psoriasis: A Phase 2 Randomized Trial
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, severe inflammatory skin disease characterized by acute flares. Recibokibart is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the interleukin-36 (IL-36) receptor. In a phase 1b open-label study, a single intravenous dose of recibokibart was associated with an acceptable safety profile and rapid improvements in pustulation, overall skin disease severity, and systemic inflammatory markers through 12 weeks. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of recibokibart in patients with acute flares of GPP. METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial conducted in China, patients with moderate-to-severe acute GPP were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive a single intravenous dose of recibokibart (1050 mg) or placebo at day 1. Patients with persistent disease activity at day 8 were eligible to receive open-label recibokibart, and patients with recurrent flares after achieving a Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Physician Global Assessment (GPPGA) total score of 0 or 1 could receive an additional open-label dose. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved a GPPGA pustulation sub-score of 0 or 1 at week 1 (day 8). RESULTS: A total of 33 patients were randomized (recibokibart, n=22; placebo, n=11). At week 1 (day 8), the primary endpoint of achieving a GPPGA pustulation sub-score of 0 or 1 was met by 86.4% of patients in the recibokibart group versus 9.1% in the placebo group (between-group difference, 77.3%; 95% CI, 42.5-88.9; P<0.0001). At week 1 (day 8), greater improvements were observed with recibokibart across key secondary endpoints, including achievement of a GPPGA total score of 0 or 1 (63.6% vs. 0%), complete pustule clearance (54.5% vs. 0%), and mean percentage change from baseline in GPPASI (-59.3% vs. 0%). By week 4, 72.7% of patients treated with recibokibart achieved GPPASI 75. Clinical improvements were observed as early as 24 hours after treatment and were maintained through week 12, although assessments after day 8 included patients who received open-label treatment. The most frequently reported adverse events with recibokibart included hypoproteinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperlipidemia, and pruritus. CONCLUSIONS: A single intravenous dose of recibokibart resulted in rapid improvement in pustular and overall skin disease severity in patients with acute GPP flares, with an acceptable safety profile.
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Authors: Baoqi Yang, Yuzhen Li, Yu Wang, Liuyi Yang, Yanyan Feng, Yangfeng Ding, Shanshan Li, Xiao‐Yong Man, Congjun Jiang, Liming Wu, Zhu Shen, Xiaohua Wang, Zhenying Zhang, Linfeng Li, Ying Tu, Tiechi Lei, Kaiming Ji, Chao Ji, Niu Xiang, Jianbo Wang, Yifan Zhan, Bo Xu, Qian Chen, Xiuqiang Ma, Xiaopei Cui, Huifeng Jia, Benke Li, Chi Ma, Guodong Zhou, Qiaoxia Qian, Xiaolu Situ, Xiangyang Zhu, Cheng Zhou, Jianzhong Zhang, Furen Zhang
Institutions: Bengbu Medical College, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, University of Hong Kong, Peking University, Kunming Medical University, Fujian Medical University, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Southern Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Wuhan University, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University, School of Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Jilin University, Shandong First Medical University, Peking University People's Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Xiamen Chang Gung Hospital, First Hospital of Jilin University, Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology