title: Secukinumab for treating plaque psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plaque psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can result in significant physical, psychological and quality of life impairments. Until recently, biologic treatment for psoriasis was limited to tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors and an interleukin (IL)-12/23 p40 subunit inhibitor. Newly developed biologics targeting the pro-inflammatory IL-17A cytokine have shown success in providing higher levels of clinical efficacy in patients with psoriasis. Secukinumab, a member of this novel class of IL-17 inhibitors, is the latest biologic to receive US FDA approval for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This comprehensive review will cover the pharmacology, efficacy, safety and future role of secukinumab and other IL-17 blockers in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While biologics have revolutionized patient care for chronic plaque psoriasis, they are associated with loss of response over time. When treatment failure occurs with existing biologics, physicians are left with few alternative treatment options to offer patients. The introduction of secukinumab has provided an additional therapeutic agent that offers improved skin clearance, better health related quality of life and a favorable side-effect profile.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine , 800 Washington St, #114, Boston , MA 02111 , USA.
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rothstein
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine , 800 Washington St, #114, Boston , MA 02111 , USA.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011788:Quality of Life; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D020381:Interleukin-17; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C555450:secukinumab
keywords: Th17; interleukin (IL)-17; plaque psoriasis; psoriatic arthritis; secukinumab