title: Overview of biologic agents in medicine and dermatology.
abstract: Three agents have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis: alefacept, efalizumab, and etanercept. The field of dermatology has now entered a new era, joining other disciplines of medicine that have been using biologic agents for decades. These new therapies offer psoriatic patients the potential for safe and effective long-term management of this disease. This article reviews how an increased understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis led to the development of these products.
authors.affiliation: SkinCare Physicians of Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. jsobell@skincarephysicians.net
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sobell
mesh_terms: D000077944:Alefacept; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077944:Alefacept; D000068800:Etanercept; C472181:efalizumab