Only 1/4 patients achieved complete skin clearance after 6 months of biologics

[Fred]

This study suggests there is still an unmet need for more efficacious biologics for patients with psoriasis.

Quote:

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Background:
Anti‐tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and anti‐interleukin (IL)‐12/23 biologics revolutionized plaque psoriasis treatment by enabling ≥75% improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) in clinical trials. Modern biologics are now reported to achieve PASI 100 (complete skin clearance) in clinical trials. However, real‐world evidence of skin clearance rates with biologics is limited. PSO‐BIO‐REAL was conducted to understand the real‐world burden of plaque psoriasis.

Objective:
The primary objective of this observational study was to estimate the proportion of patients who achieved complete skin clearance at 6 months. Secondary objectives included maintenance of response and evaluation of complete skin clearance at 12 months.

Methods:
PSO‐BIO‐REAL was a multinational, prospective, real‐world, non‐interventional study of skin clearance and patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) with biologics. A total of 846 patients from the United States (32%), France (28%), Italy (22%), the United Kingdom (11%), and Germany (8%) were enrolled and followed for one year. Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years with moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis who had initiated a biologic for plaque psoriasis. Patients could be biologic‐naïve or switching biologics (biologic‐experienced). Assessments were made at baseline and at Months 6 and 12.

Results:
At 6 and 12 months, 23% and 26% of patients achieved complete skin clearance, respectively. Prior to study entry, 60% were biologic‐naïve. The proportion of patients achieving complete skin clearance was lower among biologic‐experienced patients (20% at both Months 6 and 12) compared with biologic‐naïve patients (25% at Month 6, 30% at Month 12). The rate of complete skin clearance decreased as the number of prior biologics and baseline comorbidities increased.

Conclusion:
Only one in four patients achieved complete skin clearance after 6 months of treatment with biologics. The study indicates there still is an unmet need for more efficacious biologics for patients with psoriasis.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

*Early view funding unknown

[Kat]

Interesting.  I actually would have thought the numbers would have been higher as it seems like biologics have worked well in getting people clear.  Maybe not as well as we thought. 

After reading this just wanted to add, I do think biologics are helpful for psoriasis, and I'm sure those 1/4 of patients agree! I didn't want it to come across as I don't think they work well, simply that I thought more people would have achieved getting clear than what did in the study.

[Fred]

I have never achieved 100% clearance with any treatment, but the bio's have been the best.

[KatT]

I achieved 100% but I would rather have some plaques and have improvement with my arthritis 

[jiml]

I found it interesting and thought that biologics were more successful than they are
I also found it interesting that patients new to bios had a higher success rate to sufferers that had tried others

[D Foster]

Stelara worked well for both the P and the PsA clearing the P to a good 95% and keeping the PsA to a reasonable level but not anywhere near 100%.