OBSERVE-5: observational postmarketing safety surveillance registry of etanercept for the treatment of psoriasis final 5-year results

Efficacy of probiotic supplementation in the treatment of psoriasis-A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Many studies have emphasized the possible role of probiotics in psoriasis, probiotic supplementation might be helpful to treat psoriasis. This study systematically evaluated the efficacy of probiotic supplementation for the treatment of psoriasis.

METHODS

We searched some databases with keywords until November 10, 2023, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. These keywords included probiotics, psoriasis RCT, and so on. After rigorous literature screening by two authors, five studies were identified. Eventually, the required data were independently extracted by another author.

RESULTS

A total of five studies with 286 patients were included. The pooled results showed that the efficacy of probiotic supplementation was superior to placebo in the treatment of psoriasis. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (SMD = -1.40, 95% Cl = -2.63 to -0.17, p < 0.00001) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (SMD = -0.92, 95% Cl = -1.86 to 0.01, p < 0.00001). Score decreased after probiotic supplementation.

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis showed that probiotic supplementation could be a new treatment option for psoriasis.

Novel pharmacotherapies and breakthroughs in psoriasis treatment: 2024 and beyond

INTRODUCTION

The use of the current available therapies for psoriasis management may sometimes be limited by reduced patients' compliance, safety issues for patients' comorbidities, primary lack of efficacy, loss of effectiveness, development of side effects. In this context, several clinical trials investigating the use of both topical and systemic therapies are ongoing, and other new drugs will be approved soon.

AREAS COVERED

The aim of this manuscript is to review current literature and to provide an overview of the current and future trends in psoriasis treatment. A comprehensive review of the English-language medical literature was performed using Pubmed and clinicaltrials.gov databases.

EXPERT OPINION

Although several therapies are currently available for psoriasis' treatment, unmet needs still exist for patients with moderate and severe psoriasis and hence expanding the therapeutic armamentarium is desirable for a more personalized approach. The ongoing development of innovative therapies could provide effective and safe therapies in the future enhancing the therapeutic management of moderate-severe unresponsive psoriasis.

Incidence of histoplasmosis in patients receiving TNF-alpha inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Immunobiological drugs such as TNF-α inhibitors are valuable in rescue therapy for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but they increase the risk of infectious complications. Histoplasmosis is a significant concern in patients living in endemic regions, however, few studies have assessed the incidence of Histoplasma infection during therapy, and classic estimates may underestimate the risk. This study aimed to produce an updated risk estimate of histoplasmosis in patients on TNF-α blocking therapy.

METHODS

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that contain parameters for calculating the risk of histoplasmosis in people who use TNF-α inhibitors, to produce a risk estimate.

RESULTS

We identified 11 studies with the necessary parameters for inclusion in the meta-analysis, most of which were from North America. The incidence rate of histoplasmosis found was 33.52 cases per 100,000 patients treated with TNF-ɑ inhibitors (95% CI 12.28-91.46). Considering only studies evaluating monoclonal antibodies, the calculated incidence was 54.88/100,000 patients treated (95%CI 23.45-128.34). In subgroup analysis, the incidence was much higher in patients with IBD compared to rheumatic diseases. There was significant heterogeneity among the studies.

CONCLUSION

The risk of histoplasmosis during TNF-α inhibitory therapy may be considerably higher than that found in classical estimates, especially in patients with IBD. There is a lack of studies evaluating histoplasmosis in large endemic areas, such as Central and South America.

Challenges and Future Trends in the Treatment of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, and current treatments include topical therapies, phototherapy, systemic immune modulators, and biologics, aiming to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. However, challenges persist, such as adverse effects, treatment resistance, high costs, and variability in response among individuals. The future of psoriasis treatment shows promising emerging trends. New biologic agents targeting novel pathways, such as interleukin 23 inhibitors like mirikizumab, offer enhanced efficacy. Small molecule inhibitors like RORγt inhibitors and ROCK2 inhibitors provide additional treatment options. Combination therapies, including biologics with methotrexate, may improve treatment response. Advancements in topical treatments utilizing microneedles and nanoparticle-based carriers can enhance drug delivery and improve therapeutic outcomes. Biomarkers and multi-omics technologies hold potential for personalized treatment approaches, thus aiding in diagnosis, predicting treatment response, and guiding therapeutic decisions. Collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry stakeholders is crucial to translating these scientific breakthroughs into clinical practice. By addressing current challenges and exploring these promising trends, we can optimize psoriasis management and improve the lives of those affected by this chronic condition.

Biologic therapies for psoriasis and eyes

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disorder, manifested mainly by skin lesions, but the inflammation also may affect the joints and eye. Many comorbidities have been described in association with psoriasis, including metabolic syndrome and coronary plaques. The pathomechanism of psoriasis is multifaceted. Both genetic and immunologic aspects play a role in stimulating inflammation. Genetic susceptibility is conditioned by presence of the human leukocyte antigen-C*06:02 risk allele and the inflammatory reaction secondary to cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 17 (IL-17), IL-20, IL-23, and interferon alfa. Besides the conventional therapy of topical steroids and immunosuppressants, biologic therapies are widely used in the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and coexisting uveitis. In the majority of cases, biologic therapy has a beneficial effect on uveitis, but in some cases, some of these drugs can lead to serious side effects threatening vision.

TNF-alpha inhibitors and ustekinumab for the treatment of psoriasis: therapeutic utility in the era of IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition for which eleven FDA-approved biologic therapies are approved. Over the past decade, studies have documented the higher efficacy of IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors for the treatment of psoriasis compared to the TNF-alpha inhibitors and ustekinumab, an IL-12/23 inhibitor. Despite this, there remains an important role for the use of TNF-alpha inhibitors and ustekinumab in the treatment of psoriasis. Here, we review how considerations of infection and malignancy risk, patient demographics, treatment resistance, and co-morbidities may make certain TNF-alpha inhibitors or ustekinumab an excellent choice for therapy in particular patient subgroups.

Ixekizumab exposure associated with myelitis: A case report and a literature review

We describe a case of a 28-year-old man who developed a cervical myelitis while exposed to ixekizumab (IL-17 inhibitor) for psoriatic arthritis. Spinal MRI showed a T2 hyperintense lesion at the C4-C5 level while brain MRI was unspecific. Oligoclonal bands were absent and extensive screening for autoimmunity was negative. Rechallenge with ixekizumab was positive corroborating a relation between drug exposure and the neurological event. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of CNS inflammatory adverse event associated with ixekizumab. We also provide a review of case reports of demyelinating disorders associated with the use of biologic drugs for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The Cytokine Mediated Molecular Pathophysiology of Psoriasis and Its Clinical Implications

Psoriasis is the result of uncontrolled keratinocyte proliferation, and its pathogenesis involves the dysregulation of the immune system. The interplay among cytokines released by dendritic, T_h1, T_h2, and T_h17 cells leads to the phenotypical manifestations seen in psoriasis. Biological therapies target the cytokine-mediated pathogenesis of psoriasis and have improved patient quality of life. This review will describe the underlying molecular pathophysiology and biologics used to treat psoriasis. A review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar repositories to investigate the molecular pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and current therapeutics in psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis', the most prevalent subtype of psoriasis, pathogenesis primarily involves cytokines TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-23. Pustular psoriasis', an uncommon variant, pathogenesis involves a mutation in IL-36RN. Currently, biological therapeutics targeted at TNF-α, IL-12/IL-23, IL-17, and IL-23/IL-39 are approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. More studies need to be performed to elucidate the precise molecular pathology and assess efficacy between biological therapies for psoriasis. Psoriasis is a heterogenous, chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that presents in the skin with multiple types. Recognizing and understanding the underlying molecular pathways and biological therapeutics to treat psoriasis is important in treating this common disease.

Risk of lymphohematologic malignancies in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The association between chronic plaque psoriasis and lymphohematologic malignancies (LHMs) remains controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the risk of LHMs in patients with psoriasis according to the best evidence.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies was undertaken to assess the association of psoriasis with different LHMs. A literature search for relevant studies was performed on February 28, 2021. The random-effects model in conducting meta-analyses was applied. To evaluate the risk of bias, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was employed.

RESULTS

A total of 25 observational studies were selected, comprising collectively 2,501,652 subjects. A significantly increased risk for LHM (hazard ratio [HR], 1.55; 1.24-2.94) and lymphoma (HR, 1.27; 1.08-1.50) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis compared to the general population was found. In detail, increased risks for Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 1.71; 1.27-2.30), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 1.27; 1.08-1.50), multiple myeloma (HR, 1.32; 1.03-1.69), and leukemia (HR, 1.28; 1.00-1.65) were found. The risk of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma was markedly augmented in patients with psoriasis (HR, 6.22; 3.39-11.42).

LIMITATIONS

Possible ascertainment bias related to the diagnosis of LHMs.

CONCLUSION

The increased risk of LHMs, particularly cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, in patients with psoriasis could be related to exposure to systemic immunosuppressive therapies, comorbidities, and sustained immune activation, particularly in the skin.

Treat-to-Target Approach for the Management of Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Consensus Recommendations

Introduction

Treat-to-target strategies are used in several chronic diseases to improve outcomes. Treatment goals have also been suggested for psoriasis, but there is currently no consensus on targets, and guidance is needed to implement this strategy in clinical practice. The project ‘Treat to Target Italia’ was launched by a scientific board (SB) of 10 psoriasis experts to generate expert consensus recommendations.

Methods

On the basis of the published literature, their clinical experience, and the results of a survey among Italian dermatologists, the SB identified four relevant topics: (1) clinical remission; (2) quality of life; (3) abrogation of systemic inflammation; (4) safety. They drafted 20 statements addressing these four topics and submitted them to a panel of 28 dermatologists, in a Delphi process, to achieve consensus (greater than 80% agreement).

Results

Consensus was reached on all statements. Treatment goals defining clinical remission should include a 90% improvement from baseline in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI90 response) or an absolute PASI score of less than or equal to 3. Patient’s quality of life and satisfaction are important targets. If PASI targets are achieved, there should be no or very low impact of psoriasis on quality of life [Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score less than or equal to 3]. If PASI or DLQI goals are not achieved within 3–4 months, treatment should be changed. Abrogation of systemic inflammation may be crucial for preventing or delaying inflammatory comorbidities. Safety is an equally important target as efficacy.

Conclusion

These 20 consensus statements define the parameters of a treat-to-target strategy for psoriasis in Italy. It is hoped that use of these in the management of patients with psoriasis will improve treatment outcomes and patient health-related quality of life.

Malignancy in psoriatic disease: Results from prospective longitudinal cohorts

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence and incidence of malignancy and its types in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis without arthritis (PsC) patients, in comparison to the general population, and to identify the predictive factors for developing cancer in psoriatic disease (PsD).

METHODS

PsA patients followed prospectively since 1978 and PsC patients followed since 2006 at 6-to-12 month intervals according to a standard protocol were included. Malignancies were recorded prospectively and linkages with Cancer Care Ontario and the Death Registry were carried out to confirm the presence and type of malignancy up to December 2016. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated for overall cancers and by age and sex. Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors associated with the development of malignancy after the diagnosis of PsD.

RESULTS

2051 patients (PsD) were included of whom 228 (11%) developed cancer. 168 patients developed cancer after first clinic visit and are included in this report. Overall SIR for malignancy was 0.83 (0.68, 1.00), SIR for females was 1.06 (0.80, 1.37), and for males was 0.67 (0.50, 0.88). The most common malignancies were skin, breast, and hematological. Skin cancer was the only specific cancer that had a higher incidence than the general population with SIR = 3.37 (1.84, 5.66). There was insufficient evidence to suggest an increased risk of malignancy associated with biologics use.

CONCLUSIONS

In this long-term prospective follow-up of patients with PsA and PsC the overall malignancy risk was not found to be higher than the general population, while skin cancer increased.

Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentation, and Treatment of Psoriasis: A Review

IMPORTANCE

Approximately 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis. Patients with psoriasis experience substantial morbidity and increased rates of inflammatory arthritis, cardiometabolic diseases, and mental health disorders.

OBSERVATIONS

Plaque psoriasis is the most common variant of psoriasis. The most rapid advancements addressing plaque psoriasis have been in its pathogenesis, genetics, comorbidities, and biologic treatments. Plaque psoriasis is associated with a number of comorbidities including psoriatic arthritis, cardiometabolic diseases, and depression. For patients with mild psoriasis, topical agents remain the mainstay of treatment, and they include topical corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, calcineurin inhibitors, and keratolytics. The American Academy of Dermatology-National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines recommend biologics as an option for first-line treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis because of their efficacy in treating it and acceptable safety profiles. Specifically, inhibitors to tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) include etanercept, adalimumab, certolizumab, and infliximab. Other biologics inhibit cytokines such as the p40 subunit of the cytokines IL-12 and IL-13 (ustekinumab), IL-17 (secukinumab, ixekizumab, bimekizumab, and brodalumab), and the p19 subunit of IL-23 (guselkumab, tildrakizumab, risankizumab, and mirikizumab). Biologics that inhibit TNF-α, p40IL-12/23, and IL-17 are also approved for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Oral treatments include traditional agents such as methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine, and the advanced small molecule apremilast, which is a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor. The most commonly prescribed light therapy used to treat plaque psoriasis is narrowband UV-B phototherapy.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that is associated with multiple comorbidities and substantially diminishes patients' quality of life. Topical therapies remain the cornerstone for treating mild psoriasis. Therapeutic advancements for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis include biologics that inhibit TNF-α, p40IL-12/23, IL-17, and p19IL-23, as well as an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor.

Prevalence, Incidence, and Risk of Cancer in Patients With Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

The association between psoriasis and risk of cancer remains debatable.

Objective

To evaluate the association and risk of cancer in patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, including risk of specific cancer subtypes.

Data Sources

Two databases (PubMed and Embase) were screened from inception to January 1, 2019, using the search string psoriasis or psoriatic and neoplasms or malignancy or cancer. The search was filtered to only include human participants and publications in English.

Study Selection

Observational cohort studies with a population of patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis were included. Studies had to be original and report the incidence or prevalence of cancer within this population. Studies evaluating pediatric populations and cancer types not included in the protocol were excluded.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search string, objectives, and study protocol methods were defined before the study was initiated. A total of 365 studies were included for full-text assessment. Owing to the heterogeneity of the included studies, a random-effects model was used.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Main outcome was cancer (overall and specific subtypes) and measures were prevalence, incidence, and risk estimate for cancer in patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

Results

Of the 365 studies assessed, 112 were included in the analysis (N = 2 053 932 patients). The overall prevalence of cancer in patients with psoriasis was 4.78% (95% CI, 4.02%-5.59%), with an incidence rate of 11.75 per 1000 person-years (95% CI, 8.66-15.31) and a risk ratio (RR) of 1.21 (95% CI, 1.11-1.33). There was an increased risk of several cancers, including keratinocyte cancer (RR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.73-3.01), lymphomas (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.37-1.78), lung cancer (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.13-1.40), and bladder cancer (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.19). No increased risk of cancer for patients with psoriasis treated with biologic agents was found (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85-1.10). Psoriatic arthritis was not associated with increased risk of cancer overall (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.97-1.08).

Conclusions and Relevance

Patients with psoriasis appear to have a slightly increased risk of cancer, particularly keratinocyte cancer and lymphomas. Data on treatment with biologic agents did not show an increased risk of cancer. Data on cancer in patients with psoriatic arthritis remain scarce, and further research is warranted in this area.

Real-world comparative effectiveness of adalimumab, etanercept and methotrexate: a Swedish register analysis

BACKGROUND

The advent of biosimilars may render etanercept (ETN) and adalimumab (ADA) viable alternatives to methotrexate (MTX) as first-line systemics in psoriasis. However, real-world relative effectiveness data comparing ADA and ETN to MTX are limited.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the relative effectiveness of ADA and ETN compared to MTX.

METHODS

We analysed data from DermaReg, a regional register in Stockholm, Sweden, to estimate drug survival and mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) during maintenance treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 524 patients initiated 727 treatment episodes with ADA, ETN or MTX. After adjusting for confounders, patients treated with ADA had better drug survival (HR: 0.67; P = 0.003), lower mean PASI (-2.0; P < 0.001) and lower mean DLQI (-0.9; P < 0.001) during maintenance treatment compared to patients treated with MTX. The results for ETN compared to MTX were mixed. After adjusting for confounding, there was no significant difference in drug survival (HR 1.23; P = 0.082), but patients on ETN had lower mean PASI (-0.7; P = 0.006) during maintenance treatment.

CONCLUSION

Adalimumab is superior to MTX in clinical practice whereas the relative effectiveness between ETN and MTX is less clear. This study also highlights the importance of appropriate confounding control in effectiveness analysis.

Drug survival of biologics in treating psoriasis: a meta-analysis of real-world evidence

Drug survival of biologics represents their real-world effectiveness and safety. We conducted a meta-analysis of real-world evidence on the drug survival of biologics in treating psoriasis. We searched the PubMed, CENTRAL, and EMBASE databases from inception to 7th October 2017 for studies reporting the annual drug survival for at least 1 year. Two authors independently screened and selected relevant studies, and assessed their risk of bias. A third author was available for arbitrating discrepancies. We conducted a random-effects model meta-analysis to obtain the respective pooled drug survival from year 1 to 4. We conducted subgroup analysis on biologic-naïve subjects, discontinuation for loss of efficacy and adverse effects. We included 37 studies with 32,631 subjects. The drug survival for all biologics decreased with time, dropping from 66% at year 1 to 41% at year 4 for etanercept, from 69% to 47% for adalimumab, from 61% to 42% for infliximab, and from 82% to 56% for ustekinumab. Ustekinumab was associated with the highest drug survival in all and biologic-naïve subjects. Etanercept was associated with the lowest drug survival and was most commonly discontinued for loss of efficacy. Infliximab was most frequently associated with discontinuation for adverse effects. Clinicians may use this study as a reference in treating psoriasis.

Adalimumab, etanercept and ustekinumab for treating plaque psoriasis in children and young people: systematic review and economic evaluation

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that predominantly affects the skin. Adalimumab (HUMIRA^®, AbbVie, Maidenhead, UK), etanercept (Enbrel^®, Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) and ustekinumab (STELARA^®, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Titusville, NJ, USA) are the three biological treatments currently licensed for psoriasis in children.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of adalimumab, etanercept and ustekinumab within their respective licensed indications for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in children and young people.

DATA SOURCES

Searches of the literature and regulatory sources, contact with European psoriasis registries, company submissions and clinical study reports from manufacturers, and previous National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal documentation.

REVIEW METHODS

Included studies were summarised and subjected to detailed critical appraisal. A network meta-analysis incorporating adult data was developed to connect the effectiveness data in children and young people and populate a de novo decision-analytic model. The model estimated the cost-effectiveness of adalimumab, etanercept and ustekinumab compared with each other and with either methotrexate or best supportive care (BSC), depending on the position of the intervention in the management pathway.

RESULTS

Of the 2386 non-duplicate records identified, nine studies (one randomised controlled trial for each drug plus six observational studies) were included in the review of clinical effectiveness and safety. Etanercept and ustekinumab resulted in significantly greater improvements in psoriasis symptoms than placebo at 12 weeks' follow-up. The magnitude and persistence of the effects beyond 12 weeks is less certain. Adalimumab resulted in significantly greater improvements in psoriasis symptoms than methotrexate for some but not all measures at 16 weeks. Quality-of-life benefits were inconsistent across different measures. There was limited evidence of excess short-term adverse events; however, the possibility of rare events cannot be excluded. The majority of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for the use of biologics in children and young people exceeded NICE's usual threshold for cost-effectiveness and were reduced significantly only when combined assumptions that align with those made in the management of psoriasis in adults were adopted.

LIMITATIONS

The clinical evidence base for short- and long-term outcomes was limited in terms of total participant numbers, length of follow-up and the absence of young children.

CONCLUSIONS

The paucity of clinical and economic evidence to inform the cost-effectiveness of biological treatments in children and young people imposed a number of strong assumptions and uncertainties. Health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) gains associated with treatment and the number of hospitalisations in children and young people are areas of considerable uncertainty. The findings suggest that biological treatments may not be cost-effective for the management of psoriasis in children and young people at a willingness-to-pay threshold of £30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year, unless a number of strong assumptions about HRQoL and the costs of BSC are combined. Registry data on biological treatments would help determine safety, patterns of treatment switching, impact on comorbidities and long-term withdrawal rates. Further research is also needed into the resource use and costs associated with BSC. Adequately powered randomised controlled trials (including comparisons against placebo) could substantially reduce the uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of biological treatments in biologic-experienced populations of children and young people, particularly in younger children. Such trials should establish the impact of biological therapies on HRQoL in this population, ideally by collecting direct estimates of EuroQol-5 Dimensions for Youth (EQ-5D-Y) utilities.

STUDY REGISTRATION

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016039494.

FUNDING

The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

Malignancy Risk and Recurrence with Psoriasis and its Treatments: A Concise Update

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory cutaneous disease that affects approximately 120 million people worldwide. Systemic treatments have significantly improved disease burden, but concerns persist regarding their association with increased risk of malignancy. Patients with psoriasis have a slightly elevated baseline risk of lymphoproliferative diseases. Studies on methotrexate and cyclosporine, as well as older biological agents such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, have found no increased risk of non-cutaneous solid tumors; however, positive associations between cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas and certain therapies have been found. There is conflicting evidence regarding the risk of lymphoma and melanoma. Further studies are needed to determine the long-term safety of newer psoriasis treatments (interleukin [IL]-12/23, IL-17, Janus kinase 1/3, and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors), specifically their safety in patients with a history of cancer. This review summarizes the most recent studies on malignancy risk from psoriasis, and its treatments in patients and cancer survivors, with the highest available level of evidence.

OBSERVE-5: Comparison of Etanercept-Treated Psoriasis Patients From Canada and the United States

BACKGROUND

OBSERVE-5 surveillance registry results evaluating etanercept safety and effectiveness in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis from Canada and the United States have been reported from data collected between May 2006 and December 2012. Although both countries have an identical indicated starting dose, the maintenance dose can differ and thus affect management strategies and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the long-term safety and effectiveness outcomes of etanercept in the Canadian and US cohorts.

METHODS

Primary end points included exposure-adjusted event incidence rates of serious adverse events and serious infectious events. Secondary end points included exposure-adjusted event incidence rates of events of medical interest and efficacy outcomes.

RESULTS

Over 5 years, Canadian patients received a higher maintenance dose of etanercept (50 mg twice/week) more frequently than those from the United States. Safety outcome comparisons revealed that Canadian patients had a significantly lower occurrence of serious adverse events than patients from the United States, with an overall exposure-adjusted event incidence rate per 100 patient-years of 4.46 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.05-6.29) vs 7.76 (95% CI 7.04-8.54), respectively. Serious infectious event rates were not significantly different between the 2 countries. Secondary outcomes of events of medical interest and effectiveness also did not reveal significant differences between the 2 cohorts.

CONCLUSION

After 5 years of etanercept use, safety and effectiveness outcomes were similar between patients from Canada and the United States, with the exception of a significantly lower rate of serious adverse events in the Canadian population.

Manufacturing history of etanercept (Enbrel®): Consistency of product quality through major process revisions

Etanercept (ETN) (Enbrel®) is a soluble protein that binds to, and specifically inhibits, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a proinflammatory cytokine. ETN is synthesized in Chinese hamster ovary cells by recombinant DNA technology as a fusion protein, with a fully human TNFRII ectodomain linked to the Fc portion of human IgG1. Successful manufacture of biologics, such as ETN, requires sophisticated process and product understanding, as well as meticulous control of operations to maintain product consistency. The objective of this evaluation was to show that the product profile of ETN drug substance (DS) has been consistent over the course of production. Multiple orthogonal biochemical analyses, which included evaluation of attributes indicative of product purity, potency, and quality, were assessed on >2,000 batches of ETN from three sites of DS manufacture, during the period 1998-2015. Based on the key quality attributes of product purity (assessed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography HPLC), binding activity (to TNF by ELISA), potency (inhibition of TNF-induced apoptosis by cell-based bioassay) and quality (N-linked oligosaccharide map), we show that the integrity of ETN DS has remained consistent over time. This consistency was maintained through three major enhancements to the initial process of manufacturing that were supported by detailed comparability assessments, and approved by the European Medicines Agency. Examination of results for all major quality attributes for ETN DS indicates a highly consistent process for over 18 years and throughout changes to the manufacturing process, without affecting safety and efficacy, as demonstrated across a wide range of clinical trials of ETN in multiple inflammatory diseases.

Drug survival of biologic treatments in psoriasis: a systematic review

Drug survival measures the length of time until discontinuation of a drug. The length of time a patient remains on a biologic drug is impacted by several factors such as tolerability, side effects, safety profile and effectiveness. To evaluate the long-term drug survival, data of the most commonly prescribed biologic medications used in the treatment of psoriasis, a systematic review was conducted. A literature search using PubMed, the Cochrane Library and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature from January 1 2010 to October 28 2016 identified 3734 abstracts. Of which, 36 publications with over 40,000 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median overall drug survival for ustekinumab, adalimumab, infliximab and etanercept was 38.0, 36.5, 26.6 and 24.7 months, respectively. The mean annual drug survival rate of TNF inhibitors was 70%, 57%, 51%, 45% and 41% at years-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The 5-year mean annual drug survival rate of ustekinumab was 87%, 78%, 70%, 71% and 51%, respectively. Based on our findings, ustekinumab appears to have a longer drug survival with lower rates of discontinuation compared to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.

Review of U.S. registries for psoriasis

BACKGROUND

Patient registries are databases comprised of standardized clinical data for a specific population of patients with a particular disease or medical condition. Information from patient registries allows clinicians to assess long-lasting outcomes in patients with a specific disease, such as psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE

Our primary objective was to identify available psoriasis registries in the United States (U.S.) and evaluate the application of patient registries compared to clinical trials.

METHODS

We searched Google, the Registry of Patient Registries, Orphanet and ClinicalTrials.gov to create a list of U.S. psoriasis registries. We also performed a literature review on the application of psoriasis registries using PubMed.

RESULTS

We identified 6 psoriasis patient registries in the United States.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient registries are frequently used for psoriasis in the U.S. and provide important information about the safety, efficacy and long-term effects of systemic therapies.

Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of Adalimumab for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis: Results from 7-Year Interim Analysis of the ESPRIT Registry

INTRODUCTION

ESPRIT (NCT00799877) is an ongoing 10-year international prospective observational registry evaluating the long-term safety and effectiveness of originator adalimumab in routine clinical practice for adult patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Herein, we report the long-term safety, effectiveness, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following adalimumab treatment over the first 7 years of the ESPRIT registry.

METHODS

All treatment-emergent (All-TE) adverse events (AE) since the initial (first ever) dose of adalimumab were assessed. Physician Global Assessment (PGA) and PROs (PROs for US patients only) were evaluated during registry participation.

RESULTS

As of 30 November 2015, 6051 patients in the ESPRIT registry were analyzed, representing 23,660.1 patient-years (PY) of overall adalimumab exposure. The incidence rates for All-TE serious AEs, serious infections, and malignancies were 4.4, 1.0, and 1.0 events per 100 PY (E/100PY), respectively. The standardized mortality ratio for TE deaths in the registry was 0.27 (95% CI 0.18-0.38). During the registry's first 7 years, PGA "clear" or "minimal" was achieved by >50% of patients at each annual visit, and among US patients, the mean improvement from baseline in different PROs was maintained.

CONCLUSION

No new safety signals were identified during the first 7 years of the registry, and safety was consistent with the known safety profile of adalimumab. The number of TE deaths was below the expected rate. During the registry's first 7 years, most of the patients remained free of All-TE cardiovascular events, serious infections, and malignancy. As-observed effectiveness of adalimumab and improvements from baseline in PROs were maintained through 7 years of registry participation.

FUNDING

Abbvie.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT00799877.

Rate of serious infection in patients who are prescribed systemic biologic or nonbiologic agents for psoriasis: A large, single center, retrospective, observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Systemic biologic and nonbiologic agents used to treat psoriasis may or may not contribute to serious infection (SI) risk. Safety data, particularly for biologic agents, and associated risk for SI, are scarce. The study's aim was to explore the risk for SI in psoriasis patients exposed to systemic biologic or nonbiologic agents.

METHODS

A large, single-center electronic medical record repository was searched between January 2010 and December 2014. Records for patients prescribed a systemic agent for psoriasis (SAP) with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis diagnoses were included (ICD-9 codes 696.1 and 696.0, respectively). SIs were those who required hospitalization, and/or injectable antibacterial, antiviral or antifungal therapy. SIs occurring within 120 days after exposure to a SAP, were included for study.

RESULTS

A total of 1,346 patients were exposed to a SAP between January 2010 and December 2014; 27 (2%) had a SI. Comparing biologic and nonbiologic agent exposure, no statistically significant difference for risk of SI was detectable (p = .83).

CONCLUSION

In this population, the SI rate for biologic and nonbiologic systemic agents was clinically indistinguishable, thereby supporting consideration of the entire spectrum of available systemic therapeutic agents, both biologic and nonbiologic agents, for management of moderate to severe psoriasis.

Malignancy rates in a large cohort of patients with systemically treated psoriasis in a managed care population

BACKGROUND

Moderate to severe psoriasis often requires treatment with systemic agents, many of which have immunosuppressive properties and could increase cancer risk, including nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

OBJECTIVE

We sought to estimate the overall malignancy rate (excluding NMSC) and NMSC rate among 5889 patients with systemically treated psoriasis.

METHODS

We identified a cohort of adult Kaiser Permanente Northern California health plan members with psoriasis diagnosed from 1998 to 2011 and treated with at least 1 systemic antipsoriatic agent and categorized them into ever-biologic or nonbiologic users. Malignancy rates were calculated per 1000 person-years of follow-up with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Crude and confounder-adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) were calculated using Cox regression.

RESULTS

Most biologic-exposed members were treated with TNF-alfa inhibitors (n = 2214, 97%). Overall incident cancer rates were comparable between ever-biologic as compared to nonbiologic users (aHR 0.86, 95% CI 0.66-1.13). NMSC rates were 42% higher among individuals ever exposed to a biologic (aHR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12-1.80), largely driven by increased cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma risk (aHR 1.81, 95% CI 1.23-2.67).

LIMITATIONS

No information was available on disease severity.

CONCLUSION

We found increased incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma among patients with systemically treated psoriasis who were ever exposed to biologics, the majority of which were TNF-alfa inhibitors. Increased skin cancer surveillance in this population may be warranted.

Expert Recommendations on Treating Psoriasis in Special Circumstances (Part II)

BACKGROUND

There is insufficient information on how best to treat moderate to severe psoriasis in difficult clinical circumstances.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We considered 5 areas where there is conflicting or insufficient evidence: pediatric psoriasis, risk of infection in patients being treated with biologics, psoriasis in difficult locations, biologic drug survival, and impact of disease on quality of life. Following discussion of the issues by an expert panel of dermatologists specialized in the management of psoriasis, participants answered a questionnaire survey according to the Delphi method.

RESULTS

Consensus was reached on 66 (70.9%) of the 93 items analyzed; the experts agreed with 49 statements and disagreed with 17. It was agreed that body mass index, metabolic comorbidities, and quality of life should be monitored in children with psoriasis. The experts also agreed that the most appropriate systemic treatment for this age group was methotrexate, while the most appropriate biologic treatment was etanercept. Although it was recognized that the available evidence was inconsistent and difficult to extrapolate, the panel agreed that biologic drug survival could be increased by flexible, individualized dosing regimens, continuous treatment, and combination therapies. Finally, consensus was reached on using the Dermatology Quality of Life Index to assess treatment effectiveness and aid decision-making in clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The structured opinion of experts guides decision-making regarding aspects of clinical practice for which there is incomplete or conflicting information.

Risk of serious infections, cutaneous bacterial infections, and granulomatous infections in patients with psoriasis treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents versus classic therapies: Prospective meta-analysis of Psonet registries

BACKGROUND

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in psoriasis has been associated with an increased risk of serious infections compared with nonbiologic systemic therapies.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to quantify the risk of: (1) serious infections (leading to hospitalization, sequelae, or death); and (2) "any infection," bacterial cutaneous infections, and granulomatous infections among patients receiving anti-TNF therapy compared with nonbiologics (acitretin, methotrexate, cyclosporine).

METHODS

We used prospective meta-analysis to combine data from the Psocare registry (Italy), Biobadaderm registry (Spain), and Clalit Health Services database (Israel), including 17,739 patients and 23,357.5 person-years of follow-up.

RESULTS

For serious infections, age, gender, and Charlson morbidity index adjusted hazard ratio of exposure to anti-TNFs compared with nonbiologics was 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.80-1.19), for bacterial cutaneous infections it was 1.00 (95% confidence interval 0.62-1.61), and for granulomatous infections it was 1.23 (95% confidence interval 0.82-1.84). Using methotrexate as comparator and comparing first year of exposure with later exposure did not modify the results. For any infectious episode, risks and relative risks were heterogeneous among registries, probably because of different definitions of outcome.

LIMITATIONS

There was lack of power to describe risk of single drugs.

CONCLUSION

In current clinical practice, treatment with anti-TNF drugs was not associated with a higher risk of serious infections than treatment with nonbiologic systemic therapy.

Experience and challenges for biologic use in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis in Africa and the Middle East region

The incidence of psoriasis in Africa and the Middle East (AfME) is high as in other regions and represents a significant problem for both dermatologists and patients. Psoriasis co-morbidities such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are also particularly common in these regions and may be under-recognized and under-treated. Despite this, regional guidelines to aid physicians on the appropriate use of biologic agents in their clinical practice are limited. A group of expert dermatologists from across the AfME region were surveyed to help establish best practice across the region, alongside supporting data from the literature. Although biologics have significantly improved patient outcomes since their introduction, the results of this survey identified several unmet needs, including the lack of consensus regarding their use in clinical practice. Discrepancy also exists among AfME physicians concerning the clinical relevance of immunogenicity to biologics, despite increasing data across inflammatory diseases. Significant treatment and management of challenges for psoriasis patients remain, and a move towards individualized, tailored care may help to address these issues. The development of specific local guidelines for the treatment of both psoriasis and PsA could also be a step towards understanding the distinct patient profiles in these regions.

Predictors of Topical Use in Psoriasis Patients in the REFINE Study

BACKGROUND

The factors influencing the use of topical agents in combination with biologic therapies for the treatment of plaque psoriasis (PsO) are not well understood.

OBJECTIVE

To examine potential predictors of topical use in patients with moderate to severe plaque PsO receiving etanercept (ETN).

METHODS

Post hoc descriptive analyses and a multinomial regression of the REFINE study data were used to examine associations between topical agent potency and covariates, including Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, study site, and province.

RESULTS

Not achieving PASI 90 at week 12 predicted topical use, with a lower PASI 90 rate in patients who used high-potency topical agents post randomization (P = .003). Additionally, statistically significant differences were found in patterns of topical use among Canadian provinces (P = .007), with the use of high-potency topical agents being greater in Ontario and Quebec than the rest of Canada.

CONCLUSION

This analysis revealed that region and PASI 90 status at week 12 predict topical use.

Long-term Management of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis Patients With Etanercept

Background:

Currently, etanercept (ETN) safety and efficacy in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) has been reported up to 5 years.

Objective:

To present a case series of PsO patients receiving continuous ETN therapy for 7 or more years.

Methods:

Physicians collected data retrospectively from 52 patient charts from 5 centres across Canada.

Results:

Patients in this case series had PsO an average of 31.5 years. Nearly half of patients also had psoriatic arthritis (24/52). All patients demonstrated sustained improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and percentage of affected body surface area (BSA) following ETN treatment. Of the 52 patients, 33 have been receiving ETN for 10 years or more.

Conclusion:

The clinical experience described in this case series report suggests maintenance of ETN efficacy in PsO patients who receive therapy for 7 years or more and indicates that patients can be successfully managed with long-term ETN therapy.