The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7457 p729
23 June 2007

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Long-term etanercept exposure considered safe in severe psoriasis

Long-term exposure to etanercept (Enbrel) does not appear to cause more infections or adverse events than placebo, according to US and Canadian researchers (Archives of Dermatology 2007;143:719).

They examined the effects of extended exposure to etanercept (50mg twice weekly) in 591 patients treated for moderate to severe psoriasis. Patients were randomised to etanercept or placebo for the first 12 weeks of the study and then all patients received open-label etanercept for up to 84 weeks.

The researchers report that exposure-adjusted rates of adverse events, serious adverse events, infections and serious infections were similar for etanercept and placebo, although they concede that some of the observed serious adverse events were considered possibly related to etanercept by the study investigator.

The researchers add that antibodies to etanercept developed in 18.3 per cent of patients during the study, but these antibodies did not appear to cause adverse events or reduce the drug’s effectiveness.