Brodalumab, an Anti–Interleukin-17–Receptor Antibody for Psoriasis

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 366; no. 13; pp. 1181 - 1189
• Main Authors: Papp, Kim A, Leonardi, Craig, Menter, Alan, Ortonne, Jean-Paul, Krueger, James G, Kricorian, Gregory, Aras, Girish, Li, Juan, Russell, Chris B, Thompson, Elizabeth H.Z, Baumgartner, Scott
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Waltham, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 29-03-2012
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal - administration & dosage; Antibodies, Monoclonal - adverse effects; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cytokines; Dermatology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Drug dosages; Drug therapy; Erythema; Female; General aspects; Humans; Immunotherapy; Injections, Subcutaneous; Interleukin 17; Light therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Monoclonal antibodies; Neutropenia; Patients; Psoriasis; Psoriasis - drug therapy; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; Receptors, Interleukin-17 - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, Interleukin-17 - immunology; Respiratory tract diseases; Rhinopharyngitis; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Medicine; Skin disease; Psoriasis; Antibody; Interleukin 17; Biological receptor
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1109017

In this 12-week, phase 2 trial, an anti–interleukin-17–receptor antibody was effective in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Adverse events included neutropenia. Larger trials of longer duration are needed to assess the risk of infections.
Psoriasis is a chronic T-cell–mediated autoimmune disease
1
that affects 2 to 3% of the U.S. population
2
,
3
and 0.6 to 6.5% of the European population.
4
Emerging data identify a subset of helper T cells, Th17, that preferentially produce interleukin-17 and play a major role in orchestrating inflammation in psoriasis.
5
–
7
Levels of interleukin-17 are elevated in the lesional skin and blood of patients with psoriasis
5
,
8
–
10
and correlate with disease severity.
11
The interleukin-17 cytokine family consists of six cytokines (interleukins 17A to 17F) and five receptors (interleukins 17RA to 17RE).
12
The interleukin 17A, 17F, and 17A/F heterodimer ligands share . . .