Switching to adalimumab in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who have failed on etanercept: a retrospective case cohort study

Conflicts of interest: C.H.S., invited speaker and grant/research support Abbott, Janssen‐Cilag, Schering‐Plough, Serono, Wyeth; J.N.W.N.B., advisory boards for Abbott, Janssen‐Cilag, Novartis, Schering‐Plough, Wyeth; grant/research support Abbott, Janssen‐Cilag, Schering‐Plough, Serono, Wyeth. Madam, Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are effective in chronic plaque psoriasis; however, some patients do not respond and a significant number lose their initial response with time.1, 2 Etanercept (a soluble TNF receptor) was the first TNF antagonist recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for use in the U.K. for severe chronic plaque psoriasis resistant to standard systemic therapy.3 However, few outcome data exist for TNF antagonists (specifically the anti‐TNF monoclonal antibody adalimumab) in patients with recalcitrant psoriasis who have failed on etanercept therapy. We report the results of a single‐centre, retrospective, open‐label study that aimed to assess the efficacy of adalimumab in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis who had previously failed on etanercept therapy.