Improved effectiveness from individualized dosing of self-administered biologics for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a 5-year retrospective chart review from a Spanish University Hospital

Abstract

Background: Biologics for moderate-to-severe psoriasis are expensive and treatment substitutions may vastly increase cost. Moreover, administration regimens in routine practice may differ from recommended guidelines.Objectives: To evaluate long-term effectiveness, regimen, drug-survival, and efficiency of self-administered biologics in clinical practice.Methods: We performed a 5-year retrospective study in 72 patients (44 ± 14 years old) with moderate-to-severe psoriasis at the University Hospital La Plana (Vila-real, Spain), treated with subcutaneous biologics. We determined the effectiveness (PASI 75 or PASI < 5), and drug-survival using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and analyzed reasons for treatment interruption, drug substitution patterns, and costs.Results: Etanercept was less effective (45%) than ustekinumab (85%) and adalimumab (71%). In 15% of patients, optimal responses were maintained despite dose intervals lengthening. Drug-survival was significantly lower for etanercept than for the other biologics (p < .005). Most adalimumab and etanercept discontinuations were due to adverse events or lack of effectiveness; for ustekinumab the causes were unrelated to drug effects. Ustekinumab was 100% effective as a secondary biologic.Conclusion: Ustekinumab was the safest and most efficient treatment. Etanercept showed the highest treatment failure rate, incurring higher costs. Dosage individualization according to patient needs improves the therapy efficiency, reducing therapeutic failure and derived costs.

Keywords: Psoriasis; anti-TNF; biologics; cost-effectiveness; efficacy; persistence; ustekinumab.