Risankizumab Keeps Psoriasis Clear in Children
A 52-week phase 3 study in children and adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis reported durable skin clearance and a safety profile consistent with adult trials.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Children’s Health
Risankizumab produced durable skin clearance gains in children and adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, according to 52-week results from the phase 3 OptIMMize-1 study published in the British Journal of Dermatology. The drug's safety profile was consistent with that seen in adult psoriasis trials.
Why it matters
Pediatric psoriasis has far fewer tested treatment options than adult disease, so data on sustained response and safety in younger patients help clinicians and families weigh long-term choices. The results add evidence for an interleukin-23 p19 inhibitor already approved for adults.
The phase 3 OptIMMize-1 trial enrolled 137 patients at 41 centers in 7 countries, and at week 16, 41% of risankizumab recipients reached PASI 100 versus 18% on ustekinumab. Results beyond 52 weeks and outcomes in patients who did not respond to the drug were not reported.
The players
Risankizumab
An interleukin-23 p19 inhibitor that has been FDA approved for adults with moderate to severe psoriasis since 2019.
British Journal of Dermatology
A peer-reviewed medical journal that published the OptIMMize-1 study results.
The details
Patients were dosed by weight, receiving 150 mg if they weighed 40 kg or more and 55 mg if under 40 kg, subcutaneously at weeks 0 and 4 and then every 12 weeks. No adverse events led to discontinuation or death, and there were no serious infections, active tuberculosis cases, malignancies, or adjudicated anaphylactic reactions.
Timeline
Week 16: interim response rates compared between risankizumab and ustekinumab arms.
Week 52: 52-week results reported, with clearance maintained among responders.
September 26, 2026: study published online in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Big Picture
The pediatric data extend the evidence base established when the FDA approved risankizumab for adults with moderate to severe psoriasis in 2019. Children with the condition have had fewer tested biologic options than adults, making this trial an important addition to the pediatric treatment record.
Families of children with plaque psoriasis now have trial data on how risankizumab performs over 52 weeks, including its safety profile. Any decision about starting treatment should be made with a pediatric dermatologist who can weigh these results against the child’s own history.
The takeaway
Pediatric psoriasis treatment decisions benefit from trial data on both efficacy and long-term safety. Parents should discuss these results with a specialist to understand how they apply to a specific child.
Further reading
Explore more research on Children’s Health and how treatments are tested in younger patients.
More information
Review the OptIMMize-1 ClinicalTrials.gov study record for the trial registration details.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hcplive.
