title: Biologic therapy for psoriasis: the tumor necrosis factor inhibitors infliximab and etanercept.
abstract: During the past several years, one of the major focuses in psoriasis research has been the development of novel biologic therapies for this disease. The aim of these therapies is to provide selective, immunologically directed intervention, with the hope that such specificity will result in fewer side effects than traditional therapies. In this 2-part review, we present an update on the progress of the 4 biologic agents that most likely will be the first available for clinical use: infliximab, etanercept, efalizumab, and alefacept. The structure and mechanism of each drug will be reviewed, as well as the most recent clinical experience and safety data. The first article of this review will focus on the therapies that inhibit tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, 1090 Amsterdam Ave, Suite 11D, New York, NY 10025, USA. jmw27@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saini
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001691:Biological Therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept