Psoriasis Psoriasis Treatment

Biologics for Psoriasis: What's A Good Treatment Plan?

Summary & Participants

The new wave of treatment for people with psoriasis is injections of biologics that get to the skin through the immune system. Listen to doctors discuss what patients should know about making a long-term plan.

Medically Reviewed On: July 23, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: You've got moderate to severe psoriasis. And once you've got it, all you want to do is get rid of it. And it isn't easy to treat

ROBERT GREENBERG, MD: It is too difficult to treat with topical ointments and creams, because it usually involves very large parts of the body. The various modes involve the phototherapy, which can be very effective, but difficult, because patients have to come to the office three, four, five times a week; professional people have difficulty in doing this.

The methotrexate and the orals are very aggressive therapies that have a lot of side effects.

ANNOUNCER: Today new therapies may be filling a void.

ROBERT GREENBERG, MD: Biologics are targeted therapy that affect the immune system that is causing the psoriasis. Biological therapy helps reduce both the extent of the disease, the amount of total body surface area as well as the thickness of the plaques, the symptoms, the itching, burning sensations.

PAUL YAMAUCHI, MD: Biologic agents are still my first line of therapy, because they're safe and effective and do not have the side effects associated with the systemic agents like methotrexate or cyclosporine.

ANNOUNCER: You and your doctor may decide that taking a biologic is a good plan. One type involves a brief weekly doctor's visit.

ROBERT GREENBERG, MD: Amevive is given by twelve weekly injections. Amevive, after finishing a twelve-week course, can provide remissions from anywhere from one to eight, nine months after the last dose.

PAUL YAMAUCHI, MD: Multiple courses do result in better results in the treatment of psoriasis. With multiple courses, you get a longer remission time, a better clearance of the psoriasis and improved quality of life as you improve your psoriasis. When the patient is off the Amevive, the psoriasis does continue to improve even when they're not receiving treatment.

ANNOUNCER: Other biologics are self- injected, and these should be taken year-round to keep clearing psoriasis

PAUL YAMAUCHI, MD: Raptiva is given at home. The patient gives himself a shot, typically in the abdomen, the thighs and the upper arms once a week. Raptiva is a drug where it's administered continuously so the psoriasis needs to be treated continuously with the Raptiva once a week with these injections.

ROBERT GREENBERG, MD: Enbrel is another self-injectable medicine that is given by the patient either once a week at home or twice a week at home. Enbrel, like Raptiva, is on an ongoing basis.

ANNOUNCER: As each targets the disease in a slightly different way, the speed of the results will vary.

PAUL YAMAUCHI, MD: It takes about two to four weeks for the Enbrel to start working and patients start seeing a result.

On average, I believe that patients start seeing response in about four weeks after starting the Raptiva.

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