Original article
Adalimumab for nail psoriasis: Efficacy and safety from the first 26 weeks of a phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.029Get rights and content
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Background

Previous clinical trials have not evaluated improvement in nail psoriasis as a primary end point.

Objective

This phase 3 trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of adalimumab in patients with moderate-to-severe fingernail psoriasis and moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods

Patients were randomized 1:1 to 40 mg adalimumab every other week or placebo. The primary efficacy end point was at least 75% improvement in total-fingernail modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI75) response rate at week 26. Ranked secondary end point scores evaluated at week 26 were total-fingernail NAPSI and modified NAPSI, nail pain, Nail Psoriasis Physical Functioning Severity, Brigham Scalp Nail Inverse Palmo-Plantar Psoriasis Index, and Physician's Global Assessment (fingernail psoriasis).

Results

Of the 217 randomized patients (108 received placebo and 109 received adalimumab), 188 (86.6%) completed 26 weeks of treatment (period A) or escaped early to the open-label period. The study met the primary end point (response rate of 3.4% with placebo vs 46.6% with adalimumab [P < .001]) and all ranked secondary end points. The serious adverse event rates (placebo vs adalimumab) in period A were 4.6% versus 7.3%; the serious infections rates were 1.9% versus 3.7%.

Limitations

Patients with less than 5% BSA involvement were not eligible for enrollment.

Conclusions

After 26 weeks of adalimumab treatment, significant improvements were seen in the primary and all ranked secondary end points and in signs and symptoms of moderate-to-severe nail psoriasis versus with placebo and no new safety risks were identified.

Key Words

adalimumab
mNAPSI
nail pain
nail psoriasis
NAPSI
NPPFS
phase 3 placebo-control
skin psoriasis

Abbreviations used

B-SNIPI50 (scalp)
50% or more improvement in the scalp portion of the Brigham Scalp Nail Inverse Palmo-Plantar Psoriasis Index
BSA
body surface area
mNAPSI
modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index
mNAPSI75
75% or more improvement in modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index
NAPSI
Nail Psoriasis Severity Index
NPPFS
Nail Psoriasis Physical Functioning Severity
NRS
numeric rating scale
PGA-F
Physician's Global Assessment for Fingernail Psoriasis
TNF
tumor necrosis factor

Cited by (0)

AbbVie funded this study and participated in the study design; study research; collection, analysis and interpretation of data; and writing, review, and approval of this article. All authors had access to the data and participated in the development, review, and approval of this article and in the decision to submit it for publication.

Disclosure: Dr Elewski has received research funding (paid to her institution) from AbbVie, Amgen, Boehinger Ingelheim, Celgene, Incyte, Lilly, Merck, Novan, Novartis, Pfizer, Valeant, and Viament and honoraria for serving as a consultant to Anacor, Celgene, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and Valeant. Dr Okun has received honoraria for serving on an advisory board and/or as a speaker for AbbVie, Crescendo Biosciences, Gilead Science, and UCB, and he is a former AbbVie employee. Dr Papp has received honoraria for serving on an advisory board or panel, serving as a consultant and speaker for and has received grants (as an investigator) from Allergan, Amgen, Celgene, Centocor, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Genentech, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Merck, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, Schering Plough, and Wyeth. In addition, Dr Papp has received honoraria (as a consultant) and grants (as an investigator) from Astellas, Apotex, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Kyowa Kirin, Regeneron, and UCB; received honoraria (for serving on an advisory board and panel) from AbbVie, Apotex, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, and UCB; received honoraria (as a consultant) from AbbVie and Bristol-Myers Squibb; received honoraria (as a speaker) from AbbVie, Astellas, and Janssen-Cilag; and received grants (as an investigator) from Bristol-Myers Squibb anvd GlaxoSmithKline Beecham. Mr Baker has received honoraria (for serving on an advisory board and panel) from Abbvie, Pfizer, Novartis, and Celgene. Dr Crowley has received honoraria (as a consultant and speaker) from AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Lilly, and Novartis and has received grants (as an investigator) from AbbVie, Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Janssen, Lilly, Maruho, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Sandoz. Dr Guillet has received grants (as an investigator) from AbbVie. Dr Sudaram is a former AbbVie employee. Dr Poulin has received grants (as an investigator) and honoraria (as a speaker and for serving on advisory boards) from AbbVie, Amgen, and Centocor/Janssen-Ortho and has received grants (as an investigator) from Aquinox, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers-Squibb, Celgene, DS Biopharma, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline Beecham, LEO Pharma, Medimmune, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Schering Plough, Serono, Takeda, and UCB Pharma. Ms Gu, Dr Geng, and Dr Williams are salaried employees of AbbVie and they receive stocks and stock options. Dr Rich has received honoraria (for serving on an advisory board) from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Sandoz, and Valeant; honoraria (as a consultant) from AbbVie, Novartis, Polichem, and Valeant; and grants (as an investigator) from AbbVie, Allergan, Amgen, Anacor, Cassiopea, Dusa, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Janssen, Leo, Meiji, Merck, Neothetics, Novartis, Pfizer, Psolar, Sandoz, Ranbaxy, and Viamet.