title: Biologic agents in the treatment of psoriasis.
abstract: Psoriasis is a cutaneous inflammatory disease, which affects 1-5% of general population and can have, particularly in its moderate-severe forms, a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. Although the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis is not yet fully understood, it has been demonstrated that the disease is the result of a complex interaction of genetic, endogenous and environmental factors, where the immune system has a pivotal role. For this reason, the immune system is the main target of many treatments for psoriasis. The most recent evolution in this field are the so-called biologic agents, custom-designed biomolecules obtained by bioengineering. This review summarizes the currently available data about efficacy, safety and undesired effects of five patented biologics officially approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: adalimumab, alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept and infliximab. Some patent applications concerning possible future evolutions of the above biologics are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. f.guarneri@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guarneri
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guarneri
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guarneri
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D010330:Patents as Topic; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000069285:Infliximab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept; C472181:efalizumab