Five recent developments in psoriasis

Recently published studies on psoriasis included treatment with Humira and how it related to clinical disease response, as well as infection risk.

Other recent news reported on Healio.com/Dermatology included the FDA granting Glenmark Pharmaceuticals USA tentative approval for its generic equivalent of Donovex Cream, 0.005%, which is indicated for treating plaque psoriasis:

1. Study: Humira provides faster clinical disease response vs. methotrexate for treatment of psoriasis

Humira provided faster and more complete clinical disease responses compared with methotrexate as treatment for plaque psoriasis, according to study results.

Researchers conducted an assessor-blind clinical trial of 30 patients between the ages of 18 years and 85 years with chronic plaque-type psoriasis who were treated at the outpatient dermatology center of Tufts Medical Center, Boston, from Aug. 18, 2009, to Oct. 11, 2011. Read more

2. Infection risk may be higher with Humira, Remicade vs. other treatments for psoriasis

Adult patients with psoriasis who were treated with Humira and Remicade had a higher risk of infections compared with those treated with nonmethotrexate and nonbiolgic therapies, according to study results.

Researchers studied data collected through Aug. 23, 2013, from the Psoriasis Longitudinal Assessment and Registry (PSOLAR), a multicenter, disease-based registry opened on June 20, 2007. Read more

3. FDA grants Glenmark tentative abbreviated NDA approval for generic plaque psoriasis treatment

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals USA announced it has received tentative FDA approval for calcipotriene cream, 0.005% — the company’s generic equivalent of topical Donovex Cream, 0.005%, which is indicated for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Read more

4. Cosentyx fixed-interval maintenance more effective than retreatment as needed for psoriasis

Regular dosing every 4 weeks of Cosentyx was more efficacious as a maintenance therapy compared with retreatment as needed, according to study results.

Researchers conducted a double-blind study in which they randomly assigned 966 adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to treatment with subcutaneous Cosentyx (secukinumab, Novartis) at 300 mg or 150 mg from baseline to week 4 and at week 8. Read more

5. Bullous pemphigoid most common autoimmune bullous disease in patients with psoriasis

Bullous pemphigoid was the most prevalent autoimmune bullous disease in patients with coexistent psoriasis, followed by anti-laminin gamma-1 pemphigoid, according to study results.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study of 145 patients who were diagnosed with coexisting autoimmune bullous diseases and psoriasis between Jan. 1, 1996, and July 31, 2013, at an academic dermatology department in Fukuoka, Japan. Read more