title: Advances in therapy for psoriasis: an overview of infliximab, etanercept, efalizumab, alefacept, adalimumab, tazarotene, and pimecrolimus.
abstract: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that affects approximately 2% of the US and European population. Over the last several years, one of the major focuses in psoriasis research has been the development of biologic therapies for this disease. The aim of these therapies is to provide selective, immunologically directed intervention with fewer side effects than traditional therapies. The goal of this article is to review the progress of the biologic agents which are available, or under investigation for clinical use: infliximab, etanercept, efalizumab, alefacept, and adalimumab. In addition, two other investigational therapies, oral tazarotene and oral pimecrolimus will be discussed. Clinical data for these agents, including the most recent phase II and/or III study results, will be discussed, as well as the most recent safety data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Beth Israel Medical Center, 1090 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025, USA.
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Tutrone
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weinberg
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000077944:Alefacept; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D012176:Retinoids
chemical_list: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068800:Etanercept; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000069285:Infliximab; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016559:Tacrolimus; C117268:pimecrolimus; C086827:tazarotene; D012176:Retinoids; C472181:efalizumab