Access Dermatology

Breaking News

• Home »
• Breaking News »
• Breaking News article

Long-term efalizumab for patients with moderate-severe chronic plaque psoriasis

An Australian study evaluated the effects of long-term efalizumab (1 mg/kg s.c./week) for 21 months or less in patients with moderate-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. One hundred and one patients received an initial dose of 0.7 mg/kg s.c. of efalizumab followed by 1 mg/kg s.c./week for 3 months. Those patients who achieved a 50% or greater decrease in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) from baseline or a PASI score of 8 or less were entered into an 18-month continuous long-term maintenance treatment period with efalizumab. After 3 months, 84/101 (83.2%) of patients were eligible for long-term therapy. Of these 84 patients, 57 (67.9%) achieved a PASI-50 score. Using an intent ...