A Balanced View: Risks and Benefits of HUMIRA
Dr. Jerry Bagel presents HUMIRA as a treatment option for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis at the SDPA 2014 Fall Conference in San Diego.
What do you believe are patients’ primary concerns about taking a biologic?
Patients expressed concern about health risks of long-term therapy. 31% found fear/anxiety and/or physical preparation of injections burdensome. 10% discontinued because they experienced injection-site reaction, needle fatigue, or injection anxiety.
Dermatologists’ Views
17-29% of dermatologists expressed concerns about the safety of biologics. Up to 49% stated they did not know the side effects. 6-24% said they did not have sufficient experience with select biologics. Up to 20% noted insufficient consultation time to effectively monitor disease activity and treatment response with biologics and other systemic treatments.
HUMIRA Binds to TNF-a, Blocking a Key Cytokine Involved in Skin Inflammation
Overexpression of cytokines, including TNF-a, contributes to skin inflammation. The more TNF-a, the thicker the plaque. HUMIRA specifically targets TNF-a to treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.
HUMIRA is approved for 7 indications
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Crohn’s Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Plaque Psoriasis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Serious Infections
Patients treated with HUMIRA are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids. Discontinue HUMIRA if patient develops a serious infection or sepsis.
Malignancy
Lymphoma and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children and adolescent patients treated with TNF blockers, including HUMIRA.
Efficacy in Moderate to Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis in Clinical Trials
71% of HUMIRA-treated patients saw PASI 75 clearance at week 16 vs 7% of placebo-treated patients. 62% of HUMIRA-treated patients saw a PGA response of clear or minimal at week 16 vs 4% of placebo-treated patients.
HUMIRA 17+ Years
- 74 Global studies across 7 indications
- 12 Years of clinical trial experience in safety across 6 indications, beginning with rheumatoid arthritis
- 745,900 Patients worldwide are being treated with HUMIRA
The most common adverse reactions in HUMIRA clinical trials (incidence > 10%) were: infections (e.g., upper respiratory, sinusitis), injection site reactions, headache, and rash.
Complementing Your Support for Your HUMIRA Patients
- On-Call Nurse
- Injection Training Kit
- HUMIRA Protection Plan
- Pens and Syringes Disposal Service
- Medication Reminders
A Balanced View of the Risks and Benefits of HUMIRA
- It is the #1 prescribed biologic treatment by dermatologists
- There are support services provided
- HUMIRA has been around for 17 years
- It has good efficacy in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Image: woodleywonderworks
