Psoriasis - efalizumab and etanercept

Summary

Etanercept should be offered as an option for treating adults with severe plaque psoriasis when:

• other treatments haven’t worked (for example, drugs given by injection or orally, that is, by mouth), or 
•  these other treatments cause a reaction which means that the person shouldn't continue taking them, or
•  the person has another condition or uses another medicine that means they should not take these other treatments.

If the person’s psoriasis has not shown a measured response to etanercept after 12 weeks, the treatment should be stopped.

Efalizumab should be offered as an option for treating adults with severe plaque psoriasis if:

• the person meets the criteria in the three bullets above, and
• etanercept hasn’t worked, or
• etanercept causes a reaction which means that the person shouldn't continue taking it, or
• the person has a condition or takes another medicine that means they should not take etanercept.

Documents

For healthcare professionals

• TA103 Psoriasis, efalizumab and etanercept - guidance
• TA103 Psoriasis, efalizumab and etanercept - guidance (word)
• TA103 Psoriasis, efalizumab and etanercept - quick reference guide

For patients, carers and the public

• TA103 Psoriasis, efalizumab and etanercept - information for the public
• TA103 Psoriasis, efalizumab and etanercept - information for the public (word)

Background information

• Review proposal - October 2008
• 2006/034 New NICE guidance to help sufferers of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Implementing this guidance

Any further information NICE has produced to help the NHS implement this guideline locally is linked to below:

• TA103 Psoriasis - efalizumab and etanercept: Costing template and report