title: Biologic therapy for psoriasis--the first wave: infliximab, etanercept, efalizumab, and alefacept.
abstract: Over the last several years, a new generation of therapies for psoriasis has been in development. These biologic therapies target the activity of T lymphocytes and cytokines responsible for the inflammatory nature of this disease. In this review, we present an update on the progress of the four biologic agents in the forefront: infliximab, etanercept, efalizumab, and alefacept. The mechanism of each drug will be reviewed, as well as the most recent efficacy and safety data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA. jmw27@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Tutrone
mesh_terms: D000077944:Alefacept; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001691:Biological Therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D051379:Mice; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000069285:Infliximab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000068800:Etanercept; C472181:efalizumab