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Immunogenicity of Biologic Treatments for Psoriasis: Therapeutic Consequences and the Potential Value of Concomitant Methotrexate

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Abstract

The five biologic agents approved for the treatment of psoriasis—etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, ustekinumab, and secukinumab—have been transformative in the clinical management of severe forms of the disease. However, a significant number of patients fail to respond to these agents or experience a loss of efficacy over time, which may be attributable to the development of antidrug antibodies (ADAs). Increasing evidence, primarily in the context of rheumatoid arthritis or other chronic inflammatory diseases, suggests that concomitant administration of methotrexate may prevent or diminish the development of ADAs, thereby improving response rates. However, methotrexate is infrequently coadministered with biologic agents in patients with psoriasis, and the potential benefits of this strategy in the context of psoriasis are largely unexplored. In this review, we discuss clinical studies regarding the development and consequences of antibodies targeting biologic agents used in the treatment of psoriasis and present key findings describing the potential role of methotrexate as an inhibitor of immunogenicity. We also discuss clinical considerations pertaining to the use of methotrexate as a tool to reduce immunogenicity, and encourage further investigation into potential techniques to optimize this treatment approach in patients with psoriasis.

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Acknowledgments

Medical writing assistance was provided by Anna Abt, PhD, of ETHOS Health Communications, Newtown, PA, USA, with financial support from LEO Pharma Inc.

Conflicts of interest

The Center for Dermatology Research is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Galderma Laboratories, L.P. Dr. Feldman is a speaker for Janssen and Taro, and is a consultant and speaker for Galderma, Stiefel/GlaxoSmithKline, Abbott Laboratories, and LEO Pharma Inc. He has received grants from Galderma, Janssen, Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Stiefel/GlaxoSmithKline, Celgene, and Anacor, and is also a consultant for Amgen, Baxter, Caremark, Gerson Lehrman Group, Guidepoint Global, Hanall Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Kikaku, Lilly, Merck & Co Inc, Merz Pharmaceuticals, Mylan, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., Qurient, Suncare Research, and Xenoport. Dr. Feldman is also on an advisory board for Pfizer Inc. He is the founder of, and holds stock in, Causa Research, and also holds stock, and is the majority owner, in Medical Quality Enhancement Corporation. He receives royalties from UpToDate and Xlibris. M. Farhangian has no conflicts of interest to declare.

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  1. Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1071, USA

    Michael E. Farhangian & Steven R. Feldman

  2. Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Steven R. Feldman

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Steven R. Feldman

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Correspondence to Michael E. Farhangian.

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Farhangian, M.E., Feldman, S.R. Immunogenicity of Biologic Treatments for Psoriasis: Therapeutic Consequences and the Potential Value of Concomitant Methotrexate. Am J Clin Dermatol 16, 285–294 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-015-0131-y

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