What Can IBD Specialists Learn from IL-23 Trials in Dermatology?

The advent of biologic drugs revolutionised the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases in rheumatology, dermatology, and gastroenterology. The introduction of different targeted agents closely followed the increase in knowledge of pathogenic mechanisms. The identification of IL-23 as a master regulator of 'pathogenic' inflammation and the consequent efficacy of IL-23 blocking agents were first proofed in psoriasis and then in other inflammatory diseases such as psoriatic arthritis and Crohn's disease.

We reviewed all available results from anti-Il-23 clinical trials for psoriasis, focusing on data of IBDologists' interest. Regarding guselkumab, we analysed data from phase III clinical trials VOYAGE1, VOYAGE2, and NAVIGATE. For risankizumab, we reported efficacy and safety results from UltIMMa-1, UltIMMa-2, and IMMvent clinical trials, and tildrakizumab was evaluated by analysing data from reSURFACE1 and reSURFACE2 studies.

Data from all the clinical trials that we reported showed both the efficacy of all three anti-IL-23 drugs in psoriasis and the safety of this class; in particular, no gastrointestinal side effects were observed in those studies. IL-23 blockers have shown promising short- and long-term results in psoriasis, with a major safety profile and no negative interactions with gastrointestinal system.

Anti-IL-23 indication for psoriatic arthritis is very recent and for IBD is still to come. Therefore, dermatologists are accumulating long-term experience with these drugs, both in clinical trials and in real-world evidence, which can help gastroenterologists in the management of IBD patients.