title: Clinical Experience Acquired with Raptiva (CLEAR) trial in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results from extended treatment in an international, Phase III, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-treatment (FT) CLEAR trial period demonstrated the efficacy/safety of efalizumab in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, including refractory or contraindicated patients unsuitable for other systemic treatments. This study assessed the efficacy/safety of open-label extended treatment (up to 24 weeks' continuous treatment) in patients not achieving > or =75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI-75) at week 12 of the FT period. Time to relapse after treatment cessation, and efficacy/safety of 12 weeks' open-label re-treatment in patients achieving PASI-75 at week 12 FT were also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with PASI-75 at week 12 FT were observed without treatment until relapse, then re-treated with open-label efalizumab (1.0 mg/kg/week for 12 weeks). Others received open-label extended treatment without intervening observation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among efalizumab-treated patients (n = 308) who had < 75% PASI improvement at week 12 FT, extended treatment led to PASI-75 in 26.6%. Among patients with between > or = 50 and < 75% PASI improvement at week 12 FT (n = 118), 47.5% improved to PASI-75 with extended treatment. For patients achieving PASI-75 at week 12 FT (n = 164), median time to relapse was 58 days. Re-treatment after relapse led to mean PASI improvement of 62.3% from study baseline (n = 145). Safety results were consistent with previous studies, with no new safety concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate additional benefit of continuing efalizumab. Re-treatment re-established disease control in patients with PASI-75 who relapsed following treatment cessation. The safety profile remained consistent with that seen at 12 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Psoriasis Study Center, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany. wolfram.sterry@charite.de
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sterry
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stingl
authors.forename: Richard G B
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Langley
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zacharie
authors.forename: Morad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahfa
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannetti
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrándiz
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Jean-Hilaire
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Saurat
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C472181:efalizumab