Thinking
About Biologics?
Try Out These Links*
Amevive
Enbrel
Humira
Raptiva
Remicade
AMEVIVE
(alefacept) — Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
purchased Amevive from Biogen Idec.
Sections of this web site include "About Amevive,"
"Patient Safety and Prescribing Information" (stuff that typically is
printed and packaged with the drug), "Amevive Start Assistance Program"
(ASAP) for help with securing insurance coverage for some or all of the
drug, and a section for "Healthcare Professionals."
- Consumer site:
"Psoriasis Support" - none at this time
- Administration:
Intramuscular injection given at your doctor's office once a week for
12 weeks. If necessary, a second course of 12 weeks injections
can be prescribed after about 12 weeks "off treatment."
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ENBREL
(etanercept) —
Amgen, Wyeth
Main pages
include: "Enbrel
Explained," "Considering Enbrel," "Your
Condition," "Voices of Experience," "Patient Support
Services," "Health Care Professionals," "Prescribing
Information."
http://www.enbrel.com/enliven/enbrel-enliven.jsp
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Consumer
site: "Psoriasis Connection" - http://www.psoriasisconnect.com
Main pages include: "What is psoriasis?" "How your immune system causes psoriasis," "Psoriasis and joint pain — symptoms of psoriatic arthritis," "Psoriasis Treatments —
from topical psoriasis treatments to phototherapy psoriasis treatments and systemic medications for psoriasis including biological medications for psoriasis," "When you're looking for a partner, psoriasis can feel like a barrier to closeness. Dr. Robert H. Reiner offers advice on psoriasis and dating," "When you are living with psoriasis, choosing clothes is like an exercise in
camouflage. Don't let psoriasis stop your style. Here are tips for
men's and women's fashion," "Tired of messy coal tar hair? Learn about off-shelf shampoos for scalp psoriasis. What are your hair color options will the chemical affect your scalp psoriasis," "Stress and Psoriasis. Here are concrete tips for relaxing your body and your mind," "Dave, a DJ in New York, talks about his psoriasis," "Talking about psoriasis with your co-workers."
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Administration:
Depending on need, weekly or twice weekly self-administered subcutaneous injections
into midsection
using a prefilled "injector"
or a more conventional syringe. Duration unlimited (barring adverse reactions).
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HUMIRA (adalimumab)
— Abbot
A sub-page
on the main Humira site, this page deals with its use for psoriatic
arthritis. (Humira is not yet approved for skin psoriasis, though
some dermatologists and rheumatologists prescribe it off-label
for skin P as well as P-arthritis.) This page has some good
general information about Psoriatic Arthritis with sections titled
"Causes of Psoriatic Arthritis," "Signs and Symptoms..." "Long Term
Effects of..." "How Psoriatic Arthritis is Diagnosed."
-
Consumer
FAQ sheet:
http://www.humira.com/hu/hustore/cgi-bin/psa_Cat_415_NavRoot_401.htm
You can download the prescribing information sheet (may
require Adobe Acrobat Reader) from this page.
-
Administration: Typically a twice-a-month (every OTHER week)
subcutaneous injection using a "pen" or syringe. Both versions
come prepackaged and ready for use (no mixing or filling the injector
required). For particularly recalcitrant cases, some rheumys are
prescribing weekly dosages.
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RAPTIVA (efalizumab) —
Genentech, Xoma
Main pages
include:
"About Raptiva," "Understanding Psoriasis,"
"Is Raptiva Right for Me?" "For Raptiva Patients,"
"Living with Psoriasis," "How Do I Get Raptiva?"
"Safety Information," "For Healthcare Professionals."
Main pages include: "An educational support program."
Brought to you in partnership with NPF, Dermatology Nurses'
Association and Genentech.
There are
four sections devoted to coping with psoriasis. The sections are "Social," "Workplace,"
"Relationships," and "Self-Esteem."
Each contains "coping tips" and "testimonials."
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REMICADE
(inflimiximab) —
Centocor
This
site
doesn't discuss psoriasis, yet (it covers FDA-approved treatment for
Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis). Studies are underway to
obtain FDA approval for Remicade as a psoriasis treatment; however, in the
meantime some derms are prescribing it "off label" based on the
number of cases that have accumulated where the drug has helped Crohn's or
RA patients improve their psoriasis conditions. There is an Adobe
Acrobat version of a fact sheet about Remicade for psoriasis at the
National Foundation web site:
http://www.psoriasis.org/files/pdfs/factsheets/200404_remicade.pdf
- Administration: (Data not
published specifically for psoriasis — the following information
pertains to administration for rheumatoid arthritis and may or may not
be significantly different for psoriasis and psoriatic
arthritis.) Intravenous (IV) infusion at doctor's office or
Infusion Center. Infusions take about two hours and, after the
initial three infusions, more infusions come at 8-week
intervals. No more than 6 are given during the course of a year.
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* Fact sheets for these biologic
drugs are also available at the National Psoriasis Foundation web
site: http://www.psoriasis.org/connect/factsheets.
Also search the FlakeHQ Archives
for correspondence regarding each of these biologics.
Contents
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