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Title: Adalimumab Shows Extraordinary Results in Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Presented at AAD

"Adalimumab Shows Extraordinary Results in Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Presented at AAD"

By Maggie Schwartz NEW YORK, NY -- August 4, 2004 -- Twenty four weeks of adalimumab therapy provided exceptional improvement in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, according to study findings. Kenneth Gordon, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, presented the results of a phase 2 trial of the tumor necrosis factor-blocking antibody at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Summer Meeting held here July 28th to August 1st. Psoriasis is a chronic, noncontagious skin disease characterized by very dry, scaly, and cracked skin, skin pain, and patches of red, raised skin known as plaques. The disease is debilitating, has no cure, and affects more than 4.5 million Americans. The study included 148 individuals who had moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis of at least 1-year duration and with at least 5% of affected body surface area. They received subcutaneous injections of adalimumab, 40 mg, or placebo either every week or every other week for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients achieving at least a 75% reduction in disease activity after 24 weeks as measured by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index Score (PASI 75) compared to baseline. Sixty-four percent of the patients who took adalimumab every other week achieved at least a 75% improvement in the extent and severity of their disease. Forty-two percent of those taking the drug every week achieved at least 90% improvement of their disease. The patients self-reported significant improvement in their quality of life. After 24 weeks, 40% said their quality of life was "not at all" affected by their psoriasis, as measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a measure of patient-reported outcomes in dermatology. Dr. Gordon reiterated that further study is required, that though encouraging, this was a phase 2 study only. "But anything to improve the lives of these subjects is a great help. This is a very disabling disease. Many sufferers don't even go outside. The quality-of-life implications are enormous, so it's important that we continue to seek out effect treatment options." [Presentation title: Results of the DLQI Dermatology-Specific Quality of Life Measure in Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis Patients Receiving 24 Weeks of Adalimumab Therapy]

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