Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Efalizumab

  • Adis Drug Profile
  • Published:
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

▴ Efalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to CD11a, the α-subunit of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1, and consequently inhibits T-cell activation.

▴ In randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, efalizumab 1.0 mg/kg, administered subcutaneously once weekly for 12 weeks, significantly reduced disease activity in patients with chronic, moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Significantly more efalizumab recipients had a ≥75% decrease in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score [22.4–38.9%] than placebo recipients (2.4–4.9%); an additional 12 weeks of treatment resulted in sustained or increased PASI responses.

▴ The efficacy of weekly subcutaneous efalizumab was maintained during 15 months of treatment.

▴ Efalizumab significantly improved health-related quality of life in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis, with significant improvements in all the Dermatology Life Quality Index domains.

▴ Efalizumab was generally well tolerated in patients with chronic, moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, with few serious adverse events or treatment withdrawals. The most common adverse events were headache, chills, myalgia, pain, and fever; these most often occurred within 2 days of administration of the drug, were most frequent after the first or second dose, and decreased in frequency over time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

References

  1. Cather JC, Cattier JC, Menter A. Modulating T cell responses for the treatment of psoriasis: a focus on efalizumab. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2003 Apr; 3 (2): 361–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lebwohl M. Psoriasis. Lancet. 2003; 361: 1197–204

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pariser DM. Management of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis with biologic therapy. Manag Care. 2003 Apr; 12 (4): 36–44

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Agarwal R, Vij N, Katare OP. Biotherapy: a novel approach in the treatment of psoriasis. Drugs Future. 2002; 27 (11): 1071–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sobell JM, Hallas SJ. Systemic therapies for psoriasis: understanding current and newly emerging therapies. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2003; 22 (3): 187–95

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Leonardi CL. Efalizumab: an overview. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003 Aug; 49 (2 Suppl.): S98–104

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Prinz JC. The role of T cells in psoriasis. J Fur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2003; 17 (3): 257–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Schön MP, Zollner TM, Boehncke WH. The molecular basis of lymphocyte recruitment to the skin: clues for pathogenesis and selective therapies of inflammatory disorders. J Invest Dermatol. 2003; 121 (5): 951–62

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bauer RJ, Dedrick RL, White ML, et al. Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the anti-CD11a antibody hu1124 in human subjects with psoriasis. J Pharmacokinet Biopharm. 1999 Aug; 27 (4): 397–420

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Gottlieb AB, Krueger JG, Wittkowski K, et al. Psoriasis as a model for T-cell-mediated disease: immunobiologic and clinical effects of treatment with multiple doses of efalizumab, an anti-CD1la antibody. Arch Dermatol. 2002 May; 138 (5): 591–600

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Werther WA, Gonzalez TA, O’Connonr SJ, et al. Humanization of an antilymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1 monoclonal antibody and reengineering of the humanized antibody for binding rhesus LFA-1. J Immunol. 1996; 157 (11): 4986–95

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Dedrick RL, Bauer R, Bohmann D, et al. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of subcutaneously administered anti-CD11a (hu1124) in psoriasis subjects [abstract no. 505 plus poster]. 59th Annual Meeting American Academy of Dermatology; 2001 Mar 2–7; Washington (DC)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gottlieb A, Krueger JG, Bright R, et al. Effects of administrations of a single dose of a humanized monoclonal antibody to CD11a on the immunobiology and clinical activity of psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2000 Mar; 42: 428–35

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Krueger J, Gottlieb A, Miller B, et al. Anti-CD11a treatment for psoriasis concurrently increases circulating T-cells and decreases plaque T-cells, consistent with inhibition of cutaneous T-cell trafficking [abstract no. HB9]. J Invest Dermatol. 2000 Aug; 115 (2): 333

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Genetech Inc. Raptiv™ (efalizumab): for injection, subcutaneous [online]. Available from URL: http://www.gene.com/gene/products/information/pdf/raptiva-prescribing.pdf [Accessed 2005 Feb 25]

  16. Leonardi CL, Papp KA, Gordon KB, et al. Extended efalizumab therapy improves chronic plaque psoriasis: results from a randomized phase III trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005; 52 (3): 425–33

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gordon KB, Papp KA, Hamilton TK, et al. Efalizumab for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2003 Dec 17; 290 (23): 3073–80

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lebwohl M, Tyring SK, Hamilton TK, et al. A novel targeted T-cell modulator, efalizumab, for plaque psoriasis. N Engl J Med. 2003 Nov 20; 349 (21): 2004–13

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Gottlieb AB, Gordon KB, Lebwohl MG, et al. Extended efalizumab therapy sustains efficacy without increasing toxicity in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. J Drugs Dermatol. 2004 Nov; 3 (6): 614–24

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ashcroft DM, Wan Po AL, Williams HC, et al. Clinical measures of disease severity and outcome in psoriasis: a critical appraisal of their quality. Br J Dermatol. 1999; 141: 185–91

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Menter A, Gordon K, Carey W, et al. Efficacy and safety observed during 24 weeks of efalizumab therapy in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Arch Dermatol. 2005 Jan; 141 (1): 31–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis International Inc., 770 Township Line Road, Suite 300, Yardley, Pennsylvania, PA 19067, USA

    Keri Wellington & Caroline M. Perry

Authors
  1. Keri Wellington
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caroline M. Perry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keri Wellington.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wellington, K., Perry, C.M. Efalizumab. Am J Clin Dermatol 6, 113–118 (2005). https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200506020-00006

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200506020-00006

Keywords

Search

Navigation