title: Efficacy, tolerability and safety of switching from etanercept to infliximab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: A multicenter, open-label trial (TANGO).
abstract: Biologic anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) therapies have revolutionized the management of psoriasis. However, despite similar mechanisms of action, inter-patient variability in the clinical responses to therapy remain unexplained. Possible differences between agents include stability or bioavailability and anti-drug antibody development, and patient factors such as compliance may play a role. As a result, it is not uncommon for physicians to switch a patient from one anti-TNF-α agent to another when initial response is inadequate. This multicenter, single-arm, observational, Phase IV study assessed the efficacy and safety of infliximab therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who had not responded to 24 weeks' etanercept treatment. Drug efficacy was assessed using specific psoriasis indexes; health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index and the Skindex-29. A total of 48 patients were screened, 38 were treated with infliximab and 31 completed the study. Of these, 71% achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 after 10 weeks, and improvement in HRQoL was documented. The results of this study showed that patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis could be successfully switched from etanercept to infliximab, with improvements in both clinical parameter and HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Dermatology, University of Naples Federico II , Naples , Italy and.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000068800:Etanercept / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept
keywords: Etanercept; infliximab; psoriasis; quality of life; switching