Patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, with or without psoriatic arthritis, have increased systemic inflammation demonstrated by elevated CRP levels. In psoriasis without psoriatic arthritis, skin disease activity is associated significantly with CRP elevation, independent of BMI, age and sex. Etanercept reduced CRP levels in all but the normal weight psoriasis group without psoriatic arthritis.
Background
OBSERVE-5 was a 5-year FDA-mandated surveillance registry of psoriasis patients.
Objective
To assess long-term etanercept safety and effectiveness.
Methods
Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis enrolled; a single baseline dose of etanercept was required. Key outcome measures included serious adverse events (SAEs), serious infectious events (SIEs), events of medical interest, psoriasis-affected body surface area, physician global assessment, and Dermatology Life Quality Index. Safety outcomes were assessed relative to data from the MarketScan database.
Results
For 2,510 patients, 5-year cumulative incidence (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 22.2% (20.3%, 24.2%) for SAEs; 6.5% (5.4%, 7.7%) for SIEs; 3.2% (2.3%, 4.1%) for malignancies excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC); 3.6% (2.7%, 4.5%) for NMSC; 2.8% (2.0%, 3.6%) for coronary artery disease; 0.7% (0.3%, 1.2%) for psoriasis worsening; 0.2% (0.0%, 0.4%) for CNS demyelinating disorder; 0.1% (0.0%, 0.3%) for lymphoma and for tuberculosis; 0.1% (0.0%, 0.2%) for opportunistic infection and for lupus; 55 fatal events were reported. Rates of malignancies, lymphomas, NMSC, and hospitalization-associated infections were not higher than expected relative to administrative claims data. The percentage of patients rated as clear/almost clear was 12% at baseline, which increased to 51% at month 6 and remained relatively stable throughout 5 years.
Limitations
No internal comparator group was included; rare events may not have been detected.
Conclusion
No new safety signals were observed with long-term, real-world etanercept use.
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