title: Understanding the new clinical landscape for psoriasis: a comparative review of biologics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Encouraging results from clinical trials suggest that biologic therapies are effective treatments for psoriasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate the scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of biologic drugs for psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The studies reviewed include data on the biologies alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept, and infliximab. This article reviews all data published in the dermatology literature listed in the MEDLINE database, as well as data presented as abstracts and posters at dermatology society meetings, including the annual meetings of the American Academy of Dermatology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the studies used an improvement from baseline of 75% or more in the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI 75) as the primary measure of efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, biologics represent an important addition to the psoriatic therapies and have a great impact on the disease course and life quality of those afflicted with psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205-0900, USA. dsauder@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Sauder
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mamelak
mesh_terms: D000077944:Alefacept; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000069285:Infliximab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000068800:Etanercept; C472181:efalizumab