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Five recent developments highlight Psoriasis Awareness Month

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month.

In observation of, Healio.com/Dermatology takes a look back at recently reported developments in psoriasis, including study findings that Xeljanz treatment for psoriasis was not associated with major adverse cardiovascular events:

Xeljanz for psoriasis not associated with major adverse cardiovascular events

While there was a small increase in some cholesterol and lipid levels, incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events did not increase with Xeljanz treatment for psoriasis, according to recently published study results.

Researchers measured the effect of Xeljanz (tofacitinib, Pfizer) on cardiovascular risk factors and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis enrolled in one phase 2 dose-ranging trial and four phase 3 studies.  Read more

Risk for aortic aneurysm increases with psoriasis severity

Patients with a higher psoriasis severity have a corresponding higher risk for aortic aneurysm that is separate from established cardiovascular risk aspects, according to recent study findings.

“Previous research discovered diffusely increased vascular inflammation in each aorta segment of patients with psoriasis, which remained significant after adjusting for established cardiovascular risk factors and for [BMI],” Hsien-Yi Chiu, MD, from the department of dermatology at the National Taiwan University Hospital, and colleagues wrote. Read more

No significant difference found between Otezla, methotrexate in treating psoriasis

There were no statistically significant differences found in efficacy between Otezla and methotrexate for moderate-to-severe psoriasis, according to recently published study results.

April W. Armstrong, MD, MPH, of the Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and colleagues conducted a literature review to identify trials that included patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who reported 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI 75) from baseline to week 16. Read more

Patients with psoriasis effectively switch from Remicade to infliximab biosimilar

Patients with psoriasis being treated with Remicade had no significant change in clinical response and experienced minor adverse events when switching to an infliximab biosimilar, according to recently published study results.

Researchers studied two cohorts of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who were treated between July 1, 2015, and Jan. 20, 2016 at the University of Turin in Italy. There were 30 patients with psoriasis having ongoing treatment with Remicade (infliximab originator, Janssen Biotech), including 10 patients who also had a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Read more

Biosimilars seen as safe, effective compared with reference biologics

Recently published results showed biosimilars used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis are as safe and effective as reference tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.