How Long Does the Benefit of Biologics Last? An Update on Time to Relapse and Potential for Rebound of Biologic Agents for Psoriasis

The biologic agents vary considerably in terms of their long-term duration of effect. Using the definitions provided by the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board, the objective of this review was to compare all biologic agents with respect to time to relapse and potential for rebound. Overall, alefacept had the longest off-treatment benefit (29.9 weeks in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] 75 responders), followed by ustekinumab (22 weeks), infliximab (19.5 weeks), adalimumab (18 weeks), etanercept (12.1 weeks in PASI 50 responders), and lastly efalizumab (9.6 weeks). Rebound was reported commonly for efalizumab (14%) and extremely rarely for etanercept (0.002%)