Table 4

Safety overview

 PlaceboIXEQ4WIXEQ2WAdalimumab 40 mg Q2W*
(N=106)(N=107)(N=102)(N=101)
TEAE, n (%)50 (47.2)71 (66.4)†67 (65.7)†65 (64.4)‡
 Mild27 (25.5)43 (40.2)§41 (40.2)§39 (38.6)
 Moderate21 (19.8)24 (22.4)21 (20.6)25 (24.8)
 Severe2 (1.9)4 (3.7)5 (4.9)1 (1.0)
Most frequent TEAEs¶, n (%)
 Injection site reaction013 (12.1)**16 (15.7)**2 (2.0)
 Injection site erythema07 (6.5)‡13 (12.7)**2 (2.0)
 Nasopharyngitis5 (4.7)7 (6.5)3 (2.9)7 (6.9)
 Headache1 (0.9)4 (3.7)4 (3.9)3 (3.0)
 Upper respiratory tract infection7 (6.6)5 (4.7)3 (2.9)5 (5.0)
 ALT increased03 (2.8)4 (3.9)3 (3.0)
 Diarrhoea3 (2.8)2 (1.9)5 (4.9)3 (3.0)
 Muscle spasms1 (0.9)3 (2.8)4 (3.9)1 (1.0)
 Bronchitis3 (2.8)3 (2.8)3 (2.9)4 (4.0)
 AST increased02 (1.9)3 (2.9)2 (2.0)
 Nausea2 (1.9)05 (4.9)4 (4.0)
 Psoriatic arthropathy1 (0.9)3 (2.8)2 (2.0)3 (3.0)
 Back pain02 (1.9)2 (2.0)3 (3.0)
Serious adverse events, n (%)2 (1.9)6 (5.6)3 (2.9)5 (5.0)
Serious infection, n (%)01 (0.9)2 (2.0)2 (2.0)
Discontinued due to AE, n (%)2 (1.9)2 (1.9)4 (3.9)2 (2.0)
AEs of special interest††, n (%)36 (34.0)52 (48.6)§56 (54.9)†45 (44.6)
 Infection27 (25.5)30 (28.0)24 (23.5)26 (25.7)
  Any candida infection01 (0.9)1 (1.0)0
  Active or reactivated tuberculosis0000
 Injection site reactions5 (4.7)26 (24.3)**27 (26.5)**6 (5.9)
 Hepatic event7 (6.6)5 (4.7)9 (8.8)13 (12.9)
 Allergic reaction/hypersensitivity3 (2.8)2 (1.9)5 (4.9)5 (5.0)
 Cytopenia (all types)6 (5.7)1 (0.9)4 (3.9)4 (4.0)
  Neutropenia001 (1.0)0
 Depression02 (1.9)1 (1.0)1 (1.0)
 Cerebrocardiovascular event0003 (3.0)
 Malignancy1 (0.9)001 (1.0)
  • *The adalimumab 40 mg Q2W treatment arm served as active reference for comparison with placebo. The study was not powered to test equivalence or non-inferiority of ixekizumab versus adalimumab.

  • †p≤0.01 vs placebo.

  • ‡p≤0.025 vs placebo.

  • §p<0.05 vs placebo.

  • ¶Adverse events are listed according to the preferred term in MedDRA, V.17.1, and are events that occurred in ≥2.0% of the patients in the combined ixekizumab group.

  • **p≤0.001 vs placebo.

  • ††Reported as adverse events and coded using MedDRA, V.17.1. Groups of adverse events of special interest are shown; adverse events of special interest not reported in any group included pneumocystis pneumonia, Crohn's disease/ulcerative colitis and interstitial lung disease.

  • AE, adverse event; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; IXEQ2W, 80 mg ixekizumab once every 2 weeks; IXEQ4W, 80 mg ixekizumab once every 4 weeks; MedDRA, Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities; Q2W, once every 2 weeks; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event.