Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Randomized, Multicenter STudy to Evaluate the Effect of Secukinumab 300 mg s.c. Administered During 52 Weeks to Patients Suffering From New-onset Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis as Early Intervention Compared to Standard Treatment With Narrow-band UVB (STEPIn Study)
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine whether early intervention with subcutaneous (s.c.) secukinumab 300 mg in patients with new-onset moderate to severe plaque psoriasis may lead to prolonged symptom-free periods by preventing reactivation of old lesions or ultimately totally hindering the occurrence of new lesions, i.e., changing the natural course of the disease (Main Study).


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects must give a written, signed and dated informed consent
* Chronic plaque-type psoriasis present for at least 6 months before randomization
* Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis as defined at randomization by:

  * PASI score of ≥12 and
  * Body Surface Area (BSA) affected by plaque-type psoriasis ≥10% and
  * IGA mod 2011 ≥3 (based on a scale of 0-4)
* Candidate for systemic therapy, defined as having psoriasis inadequately controlled by:

  * Topical treatment (including topical corticosteroids) and/or
  * Phototherapy and/or
  * Previous systemic therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Forms of psoriasis other than plaque psoriasis
* Drug-induced psoriasis
* Ongoing use of prohibited treatments
* Previous exposure to secukinumab or any other biologic drug directly targeting IL-17A or IL-17RA, or ustekinumab, or any therapies targeting IL-12 or IL-23
* Use of any other investigational drugs within 5 half-lives of the investigational treatment before study drug initiation
* Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18-80 years old and capable of giving informed consent.
* at least a 6-month history of chronic moderate to severe psoriasis and a candidate for systemic therapy.
* BSA covered with psoriasis of at least 5 % or more at Baseline.
* An history of coronary atherosclerosis or at least three risk factors among the following: hypertension, active smoking, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, microalbuminuria, age above 55 years, and first degree relative with coronary atherosclerosis before 65 years.
* Patient must be on a stable dose for at least 8 weeks before baseline if taking medications used to control angina, hypertension, serum lipids and any medication that can have an effect on inflammation.
* Patient has a carotid or ascending aorta atherosclerotic plaque inflammation target-to background ratio of 1.6 or more as determined by 18-FDG uptake measured by PET scanning.
* Female patient is either not of childbearing potential, defined as postmenopausal for at least 1 year or surgically sterile, or is of childbearing potential and practicing one of the following methods of birth control throughout the study and for 150 days after study completion:

  * condoms, sponge, foams, jellies, diaphragm or IUD.
  * contraceptives for three months prior to study drug administration
  * a vasectomized partner.
* Female patient of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at the Screening visit.
* Patient is judged to be in good general health as determined by the principal investigator.
* Patient will be evaluated for latent TB infection with a PPD or a Quantiferon Gold test and CXR. Patient who demonstrates evidence of latent TB infection will only be allowed to participate in the study if they are willing to use TB prophylaxis according to Canadian guidelines
* Patient must be able and willing to provide written informed consent and comply with the requirements of this study protocol.
* Patient must be able and willing to self-administer SC injections or have a qualified person available to administer SC injections.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient has other active skin diseases or skin infections (that may interfere with evaluation of psoriasis or with patient's safety.
* Patient has a history of an allergic reaction or significant sensitivity to constituents of study drug, including latex.
* Patient used any non-biological systemic therapy for the treatment of psoriasis less than 30 days before Day 0. Investigational chemical agents must be discontinued at least 30 days or five half-lives prior to the Baseline visit (whichever is longer).
* Patient who has used any biological therapy for the treatment of psoriasis less than 3 months (90 days) before Day 0.
* Patient is taking or requires oral or injectable corticosteroids during the study. Inhaled corticosteroids for stable medical conditions are allowed.
* Patient has used any topical treatment for psoriasis or has used phototherapy within the last 2 weeks prior to baseline (at the exception of low strength (hydrocortisone and desonide) topical corticosteroid for the face, groin (including genitals) and inframammary areas).
* Patient has received Anakinra/Kineret within the last 2 weeks prior to the Baseline visit or is likely to receive Anakinra/Kineret during the course of the study.
* Patient has a poorly controlled medical condition, such as uncontrolled diabetes, documented history of recurrent infections, unstable ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 40%, recent stroke, chronic leg ulcer or any other condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the patient at risk if participating in the study.
* Patient had a myocardial infarction or hospitalization for a cardiac condition within the past 12 weeks.
* Patient has a history of acute coronary syndrome, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft, or carotid revascularization within 12 weeks of baseline.
* Patient for whom a change in medical treatment for angina, serum lipids, hypertension or any other medication that can have a significant effect on inflammation is planned for the duration of the study.
* Patient has a history of neurologic symptoms suggestive of central nervous system demyelinating disease.
* Patient has history of cancer or lymphoproliferative disease other than a successfully treated non-metastatic cutaneous squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma and/or localized carcinoma in situ of the cervix.
* Patient has a history of listeriosis, treated or untreated TB, persistent chronic infections, or recent active infections requiring hospitalization or treatment with intravenous anti-infectives within 30 days or oral anti-infectives within 14 days prior to the Baseline visit.
* Patient has received any live attenuated vaccine 28 days or less before baseline.
* Patient with hepatitis B or hepatitis C viral infection.
* Patient with any of the following: hemoglobin = 10 g/L, white blood cell count = 3.0 X 109/L, platelet count =130 X 109/L, ALT = 2 times the upper limit of normal, AST = 2 times the upper normal limit, total bilirubin = 2 times the upper normal limit or creatinine = 150 umol/L.
* Patient is currently using or plans to use anti-retroviral therapy at any time during the study.
* Patient is known to have immune deficiency or is immunocompromised.
* Female patient who is pregnant or breast-feeding or considering becoming pregnant during the study or for 150 days after the last dose of study medication.
* Patient has a history of clinically significant drug or alcohol abuse in the last year.
* Patient is considered by the investigator, for any reason, to be an unsuitable candidate for the study.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

Patient has plaque psoriasis. Patient has at least a 6 month history of plaque psoriasis.Patient has a Body Surface Area (BSA) covered with psoriasis of 5% or more at Day 0.

Patient is a candidate for systemic therapy. Patient is male or female, 18 to 80 years of age at time of consent. Patient's weight at screening is a maximum of 180 kg. Patient using medication to control angina, hypertension, serum lipids and any medication that can have an effect on inflammation must be on a stable dose for at least 8 weeks before Day 0.

Patient has an ascending aorta atherosclerotic plaque inflammation target-to-background ratio of 1.6 or more as determined by 18-FDG uptake measured by PET scanning.

Patient or patient's partner has been in a menopausal state for at least a year, is surgically sterile (hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, tubal ligation or vasectomy), is clinically diagnosed infertile, has a same-sex partner, is abstinent, or is willing to use effective contraceptive method for at least 30 days before Day 0 and at least 6 months after the last study drug administration. Effective contraceptive methods are:

1. Barrier methods such as condom, sponge or diaphragm combined with spermicide in foam, gel or cream;
2. Hormonal contraception (oral, intramuscular, implant or transdermal) which include Depo-Provera, Evra and Nuvaring;
3. Intrauterine device (IUD); Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at the Screening visit.

Patient is judged to be in good general health as determined by the principal investigator based upon the results of medical history, laboratory profile, physical examination, and CXR performed at Screening.

Patient will be evaluated for latent TB infection with a PPD or a Quantiferon Gold test and CXR. Patient who demonstrates evidence of latent TB infection (either PPD more than or equal to 5 mm of induration or positive Quantiferon Gold, irrespective of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination status and negative CXR findings for active TB, and/or suspicious CXR findings) will not be allowed to participate in the study.

Patient must be able and willing to provide written informed consent and comply with the requirements of this study protocol.

Patient must be able and willing to self-administer SC injections or have a qualified person available to administer SC injections.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patient has spontaneously improving or rapidly deteriorating plaque psoriasis. Patient has other active infections (bacterial, fungal or viral) or skin diseases or skin infections (bacterial, fungal, or viral) that may interfere with evaluation of psoriasis or with patient's safety.

Patient has a history of an allergic reaction or significant sensitivity to constituents of study drug, including latex (a component of the pre-filled syringe).

Patient has used a non-biological systemic therapy for the treatment of psoriasis less than 30 days before Day 0.

Patient has used an investigational chemical or biological agent less than 30 days or 5 half-lives prior to the Day 0 visit (whichever is longer).

Patient has used a biological therapy for the treatment of psoriasis less than 90 days before day 0.

Patient has used a systemic immnosuppressor (eg. Azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine) less than 30 days before Day 0.

Patient is taking or requires oral or injectable corticosteroids during the study. Inhaled corticosteroids for stable medical conditions are allowed.

Patient has used a topical treatment for psoriasis or has used phototherapy within the last 2 weeks prior to Day 0 (at the exception of low potency topical corticosteroids for groin, genitals, face, inflammatory area, palms and soles).

Patient has received Anakinra/Kineret within the last 2 weeks prior to the Day 0 visit or is likely to receive Anakinra/Kineret during the course of the study Patient has a poorly controlled medical condition, such as uncontrolled diabetes, documented history of recurrent infections, unstable ischemic heart disease, class III or IV (New York Heart Association Functional Classification; NYHA) congestive heart failure, an ejection fraction of less than 30%, recent stroke (within the past 3 months), chronic leg ulcer or any other condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the patient at risk if participating in the study.

Patient has had a myocardial infarction or has been hospitalized for a cardiac condition within the past 12 weeks.

Patient has a history of acute coronary syndrome, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass graft, carotid endarterectomy, stent installation or carotid revascularization within 12 weeks of Day 0.

Patient has had a percutaneous coronary intervention in the past 12 months. Patient plans for a change in medical treatment for angina, serum lipids, hypertension or any other medication that can have a significant effect on inflammation during the course of the study.

Patient has history of neurologic symptoms suggestive of central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disease (e.g. optic neuritis, visual disturbance, gait disorder/ataxia, facial paresis, apraxia).

Patient has history of cancer or lymphoproliferative disease other than a successfully treated non-metastatic cutaneous squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma and/or localized carcinoma in situ of the cervix.

Patient has a history of listeriosis, treated or untreated Tuberculosis (TB), persistent chronic infections, or recent active infections requiring hospitalization or treatment with intravenous anti-infectives within 30 days prior to the Day 0 visit or oral anti-infectives within 14 days prior to the Day 0 visit.

Patient has received a live attenuated vaccine 28 days or less before Day 0 or plan to receive a live attenuated vaccine during the study and up to 4 months after the last study drug administration..

Patient with hepatitis B or hepatitis C viral infection Patient with any of the following: hemoglobin ≤ 10 g/L, white blood cell count ≤ 3.0 X 109/L, platelet count ≤130 X 109/L, ALT ≥ 2 times the upper limit of normal, AST ≥ 3 times the upper normal limit, total bilirubin ≥ 2 times the upper normal limit or creatinine ≥ 150 µmol/L.

Patient currently uses or plans to use anti-retroviral therapy at any time during the study.

Patient is known to have immune deficiency or is immunocompromised. Female patient who is pregnant or breast-feeding or considering becoming pregnant during the study or for 6 months after the last dose of study medication.

Patient has a history of clinically significant drug or alcohol abuse in the last year.

Patient who plans to travel in an area where tuberculosis is endemic during the study and up to 4 months after the last study drug administration.

Patient is considered by the investigator, for any reason, to be an unsuitable candidate for the study.
D: Key Inclusion Criteria:

* Able to understand and communicate with the investigator, willing and capable to comply with all study procedures, and provide written signed and dated informed consent (personally or by a witness) before any assessment is performed.
* Aged 18 to 50 years inclusive.
* New-onset plaque psoriasis with appearance of the first psoriasis plaques within the last 12 months before randomization and naïve to any systemic treatment and phototherapy (Arm A1, Arm A2, and Arm B1). Episodes of mild psoriasis, which occurred at least 3 years before screening and resolved spontaneously within 6 months will be accepted.
* Chronic plaque psoriasis with appearance of the first psoriasis symptoms 5 years or longer and intolerance or inadequate response to phototherapy or any systemic treatment including biologicals, except for IL-17A inhibitors (Arm C1 and Arm C2).
* Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis defined at screening and baseline by PASI \>= 10, and body surface area (BSA) \>= 10%, and IGA mod 2011 \>= 3.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

* Forms of psoriasis other than plaque-type (e.g., pustular, erythrodermic, guttate, light sensitive, and drug induced).
* Ongoing use of prohibited treatments.
* Previous treatment with phototherapy or any systemic treatment.
* Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women.
* Women of childbearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they are using effective methods of contraception during the Treatment period or longer if required by locally approved prescribing information (e.g., 20 weeks in the EU and countries where applicable for secukinumab).

Answer: D