Key points Through the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation act, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has defined a biosimilar as a biologic product that is highly similar to the original product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components.…
Key points Ixekizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against interleukin-17A. Ixekizumab is more efficacious in the treatment of plaque psoriasis in comparison to etanercept and placebo. Ixekizumab has led to higher clinical response rates and skin clearance rates in clinical…
Key points Secukinumab is a first-in-class human monoclonal antibody against interleukin-17A. Secukinumab has been demonstrated in clinical studies to be significantly more efficacious in the treatment of plaque psoriasis in comparison to etanercept and ustekinumab. The most common side effects…
Key points Adalimumab is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The mechanism of action of adalimumab is inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), thereby inhibiting the inflammatory cascade leading to psoriatic skin lesions. Pivotal trials…
Key points Infliximab is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The mechanism of action of infliximab is inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α, thereby inhibiting the inflammatory cascade leading to psoriatic skin lesions. Pivotal trials on…
Key points Etanercept is a soluble human dimeric fusion protein that competitively binds and inhibits tumor necrosis factor. Etanercept improved psoriatic skin lesions in phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials. Etanercept can be used in pediatric and geriatric populations…
Key points Cyclosporine (CsA) is a highly effective treatment option for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis with a rapid onset of action. Its mode of action includes the formation of a CsA-cyclophilin complex, which binds to and inhibits calcineurin. Inhibition…
Key points Acitretin is an effective agent for the treatment of plaque psoriasis and is often used in combination therapy (phototherapy and other systemic antipsoriatic agents). Acitretin is initially dosed at 10 to 25 mg/d with gradual escalation of 10 to…
Key points Methotrexate (MTX) remains a safe and effective modality for the treatment of severe, recalcitrant psoriasis when used appropriately. The exact mechanism of action of MTX in psoriasis is unknown, but it is thought to involve an immune modulatory…