Biologic Drugs Treat Tough Psoriasis Cases
New Class of Drugs May Have Long-Lasting Effects
Richard Langley, MD, research director in dermatology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, presented data from a study of 60 weeks of treatment with Humira. Humira is not yet approved for treatment of psoriasis.
Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis received either 80 mg of Humira at the beginning and 40 mg every other week, two weeks of 80 mg of Humira followed by 40 mg every week, or a placebo. Most patients were white males, and the average age was 44.
After 24 weeks of treatment with Humira, 67% of patients who received treatment every other week and 77% of patients who received weekly treatment achieved a 75% improvement in severity.
Moreover, most of the skin was free of psoriasis for more than 75% of patients.
Another Humira study showed that the drug is also effective for psoriatic arthritis. Both studies were sponsored by Abbott Laboratories, which makes Humira.
In this study, 67% of patients treated with Humira were "clear" or "almost clear" after 24 weeks compared with 10% of patients treated with a placebo, says Philip Mease, MD, clinical professor at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Speaking at the news conference, Weinberg said there is little doubt that biologics are rapidly becoming the drugs of choice for psoriasis. But many questions still need to be answered, including better methods for identifying patients who will respond to the drugs, as well as more evidence to support selection of a particular biologic.
The final word, he says, is still to come. Meanwhile, "The data on these drugs is promising. As more and more research is done, dermatologists can help more psoriasis patients find the best therapy for their condition," Weinberg said.
Biologic Drugs Treat Tough Psoriasis Cases
New Class of Drugs May Have Long-Lasting Effects
Humira Looks Promising
Richard Langley, MD, research director in dermatology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, presented data from a study of 60 weeks of treatment with Humira. Humira is not yet approved for treatment of psoriasis.
Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis received either 80 mg of Humira at the beginning and 40 mg every other week, two weeks of 80 mg of Humira followed by 40 mg every week, or a placebo. Most patients were white males, and the average age was 44.
After 24 weeks of treatment with Humira, 67% of patients who received treatment every other week and 77% of patients who received weekly treatment achieved a 75% improvement in severity.
Moreover, most of the skin was free of psoriasis for more than 75% of patients.
Another Humira study showed that the drug is also effective for psoriatic arthritis. Both studies were sponsored by Abbott Laboratories, which makes Humira.
In this study, 67% of patients treated with Humira were "clear" or "almost clear" after 24 weeks compared with 10% of patients treated with a placebo, says Philip Mease, MD, clinical professor at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Speaking at the news conference, Weinberg said there is little doubt that biologics are rapidly becoming the drugs of choice for psoriasis. But many questions still need to be answered, including better methods for identifying patients who will respond to the drugs, as well as more evidence to support selection of a particular biologic.
The final word, he says, is still to come. Meanwhile, "The data on these drugs is promising. As more and more research is done, dermatologists can help more psoriasis patients find the best therapy for their condition," Weinberg said.