Psoriatic Arthritis

Evidence Lacking for Tests for Psoriasis Patients Using Biologic Agents

Will Boggs, MD | July 25, 2015

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Various organizations recommend dozens of screening and monitoring tests for patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis who are using systemic biologic agents, despite sparse evidence to support any of them. “At a population level, these medications have proven to be very safe and the evidence does not support such extensive and frequent…

Secukinumab Effective for Treating Psoriatic Arthritis

Reuters Staff | July 15, 2015

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The anti-interleukin-17A monoclonal antibody secukinumab improves signs and symptoms in patients with psoriatic arthritis, according to results from Novartis’ FUTURE 2 trial. In earlier studies, secukinumab has demonstrated superior effectiveness to placebo and etanercept in improving the signs and symptoms of psoriasis. Dr. Iain B. McInnes from the University of Glasgow in…

Many Psoriasis Patients Have Undiagnosed Arthritis

Kathryn Doyle | June 23, 2015

(Reuters Health)—Up to 15% of people with psoriasis have undiagnosed arthritis that’s related to the skin condition, according to a new review. “The important takeaway,” said Dr. Abby Van Voorhees, director of the Psoriasis and Phototherapy Treatment Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, “would be that further education is needed…

Biosimilars for RA Studied in Multiple Trials

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | June 17, 2015

Biosimilars for etanercept and sarilumab are being examined in multiple Phase 3 trials for their effects in RA and psoriasis patients.

Ixekizumab Clinical Trials Continue; FDA Updates Warning Label for Varenicline

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, CGP, RPh | June 15, 2015

It seems to have begun in Norway, the international pressure to switch patients from well-known brand biologic agents, such as Remicade (infliximab), to biosimilar agents, due to a significant cost advantage.1 This biosimilar came with a 39% price markdown last year compared with the brand, and when Norway called for bids, the discount went to…

Clinical Trials Ongoing for Brodalumab

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | June 5, 2015

Brodalumab, an interleukin (IL) 17 inhibitor, is currently in early clinical trials (Phase 1b and Phase 2) for a number of different autoimmune diseases.1 Amgen recently terminated its co-development and commercialization agreement with AstraZeneca for the brodalumab investigational program in trials for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. Amgen’s decision to…