Etanercept - An Innovative Biologics Treatment For Psoriasis

Main Category: Eczema / Psoriasis
Article Date: 29 Oct 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis cannot be cured, but many different therapies can reduce, or nearly stop, their symptoms. In recent years, the arrival of a new class of drugs called biologics has revolutionised psoriasis treatment. Etanercept is a biologics treatment.

Most medicines are created by combining chemicals. In contrast, "biologics" are made from human or animal proteins. Biologics have been used for more than 100 years. Vaccines and insulin are considered biologics because they are derived from living sources. Only recently, however, have biologics that are specifically targeted toward psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis begun to emerge as potentially promising new treatment options i.

Over 400,000 people have been treated with etanercept worldwide, across indications. In Singapore, etanercept is indicated for ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. In July 2006, etanercept received HSA (Health Sciences Authority) approval for psoriasis.

Etanercept is the number one biologic prescribed worldwide ii.

WHY ARE BIOLOGICS DIFFERENT iii

Biologics are different from other medications for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis because they are designed to block both diseases early in their development-in the immune system. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis develop when certain immune system cells are triggered and become overactive. These overactive cells set off a series of events in the body, eventually causing psoriasis to develop on the skin. For some, arthritis symptoms develop in the joints.

Biologics work by blocking the action of certain immune cells that play a role in the diseases. Ultimately, almost all treatments that work for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis impact or target the immune system in some way. This is true for phototherapy and systemic medications such as methotrexate and cyclosporine. The difference is that their impact on the immune system and body is broad, and may include the risk of potentially serious side effects on other organs.

Biologics, on the other hand, are more targeted and spare the body these broad side effects. They are a potentially safer option for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, although their long-term effects are not yet known.

HOW WELL DOES ETANERCEPT WORK?

In medical studies, nearly half of patients with psoriasis saw a significant improvement in their plaque psoriasis within 3 months of using etanercept. Overall, 3 out of 4 patients saw improvement. Etanercept can work fast; many patients saw improvement within 2 months iv.

Many psoriatic arthritis patients taking etanercept have reported significant improvement in as little as 4 weeks, with benefit being maintained through 6 months. Etanercept also has been shown to inhibit the progression of structural damage v.

A recent study, confirming the established safety profile of etanercept for up to 2.5 years, was presented at the 15th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in October 2006. The study confirmed that the overall safety profile of etanercept did not change with extended dosing for up to 2.5 years. These findings reinforce the conclusions of an earlier study of etanercept in which the rate of adverse events was similar to that of placebo, and no new safety signals were identified.

The study also revealed that patients on interrupted treatment (in real life, treatment of psoriasis patients is often suspended for a variety of reasons and then restarted), after reinitiating therapy, regained similar positive efficacy results as the patients with uninterrupted treatment vi.

i - Information extracted from National Psoriasis Foundation "Biologic Treatments" Available at
www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psoriasis/biologics/about.php.
Accessed 4 October 2005.

ii - Medical News Today, "New Data Reinforce Safety Profile Of ENBREL (Etanercept) For Psoriasis" Available at
www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=53518

iii - Information extracted from National Psoriasis Foundation "Biologic Treatments" Available at
www.psoriasis.org/treatment/psoriasis/biologics/about.php.
Accessed 4 October 2005.

iv - ENBREL "Reducing Signs and Symptoms of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis"
www.enbrel.com/psoriasis/reducing-symptoms.jsp.
Accessed 4 October 2005.

v - ENBREL "Reducing Signs and Symptoms of Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis"
www.enbrel.com/psoriasis/reducing-symptoms.jsp.
Accessed 4 October 2005.

vi - Medical News Today, "New Data Reinforce Safety Profile Of ENBREL (Etanercept) For Psoriasis" Available at
www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=53518

National Psoriasis Foundation

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