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Efalizumab Controls Moderate-to-Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis of the Scalp: Presented at EADV By Jenny Powers PARIS -- September 21, 2008 -- Sixty-eight percent of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis achieved improvement in scalp psoriasis within the first 12 weeks of treatment with efalizumab in a study presented here at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress. Psoriasis control was maintained with continuous treatment in these patients for up to 20 weeks. The multicentre, open-label study, the first prospective, post-approval review of efalizumab treatment, included a first treatment period with efalizumab at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg/week for 12 weeks, and a continuous treatment period that lasted up to week 20 (optional for first treatment responders). Gino A. Vena, MD, Second Dermatology Clinic, University of Bari, Bari, Italy, and colleagues enrolled 1,266 patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis who had failed to respond to or had contraindications to other systemic therapies (cyclosporine, methotrexate, psoralen ultraviolet light A). Subjects were recruited from centres throughout Europe. The study findings were described in a poster presentation on September 18. In the intent-to-treat (ITT) population of 1,255 patients, 688 patients received first treatment therapy with efalizumab and 853 (68%) of these patients achieved the primary efficacy endpoint of a Physician Global Assessment (PGA) rating of "good," "excellent," or "clear" by the 12-week time point. At week 20, 547 (79.5%) of 688 patients who received continued treatment with efalizumab had achieved a PGA rating of "good" or higher. Efalizumab treatment also maintained the improved or cleared condition of scalp psoriasis in these patients. Dr. Vena and his fellow researchers concluded that the results reflect the outcomes of real-life usage of efalizumab at the approved dose and are consistent with results from earlier phase 3 trials. Funding for this study was provided by Merck Serono International, S.A. [Presentation title: Efficacy of Efalizumab in the Treatment of Scalp Psoriasis in Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Results From a Post-Approval, Phase III/IV Study (Control II). Abstract FP1433] E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version