Efalizumab

Introduction

Skin affecting the world's population and are often defined primarily by clinical parameters, but are generally not well understood at the cellular and biochemical. Psoriasis is a (common skin disorder at least four types of psoriasis, classified according to clinically observed symptoms of the skin) which affects 2-3% of the population and is therefore one of the autoimmune diseases more common in the world. As a chronic skin disorder characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation and skin inflammation of varying severity from minor localized patches to complete body coverage, psoriasis may be associated with other inflammatory diseases like arthritis, psoriatic the inflammatory bowel disease and coronary heart disease. Many psoriasis patients suffer from moderate to severe and reported a significant negative impact on their quality of life. According to some estimates, a total annual direct and indirect cost of psoriasis over 11 billion dollars. work days lost represent 40% of the cost burden. About 10-15 percent of people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis.

treatment of psoriasis has been achieved in the clearance of skin lesions and prevent their recurrence. Approximately 20% of patients with psoriasis have a very mild form of the disease when treatment with over-counter products are topical use. Treatment by doctors include topical agents, phototherapy, treatment with oral conventional systemic and organic products. New stem cell based therapies are being developed and offer a promising therapy for this chronic disease for life.

Traditional Therapies

Traditional therapies have included topical corticosteroids such as clobetasol (Clobex, Galderma) and bethamethasone. These are the most prescribed treatment for most patients with mild to moderate psoriasis. Treatment with these compounds and the subsequent withdrawal of treatment may lead to relaxation, an aggressive disease recurrence. Other topical agents that are commonly used are analogues of vitamin D3, such as calcipotriol (Davonex / Daivonex; Leo Pharma / Warner Chilcott), retinoids such as tazarotene (Tazorac / Zorac, Allergan), and a fixed-dose combination calcipotriol and bethamethasone (Taclonex / Xamiol / Dovobet; Warner Chilcott). These treatments are generally considered safe, but have varying efficiencies. The long-term use may cause adverse effects.

For moderate psoriasis unresponsive to topical therapy, phototherapy (UV) is an effective treatment option, but may require a considerable time commitment from the patient, since the frequent visits to the doctor's office are needed. system agents are used when psoriasis is refractory to topical therapy and phototherapy, or when coverage of the skin is too broad. Include oral systemic retinoids, methotrexate, cyclosporin and acitretin, are effective, practical and inexpensive. However, using the oral systemic is limited by high levels of toxicity to the liver, kidneys and bone marrow, and their potential teratogenicity.

Biologics

Research in the last decade has led to new targeted therapies "based on how immune cells such as T cells and dendrocytes, Travel and cytokine signaling use to interact with one another. Two basic strategies are used: 1) anti-T cell, and 2) anti-cytokine therapies. Compared with conventional systemic agents, biological products that target specific aspects of the immune system's objective to provide better safety and tolerability, thus allowing a more long term. Six organic products have been approved to date.

Two biological products: 1) alefacept (Amevive, Astellas / Biogen) and 2) the efalizumab (Raptiva / Xanelim, Genentech / Roche / Merck-Serono, target T cells that are involved.