The new results from the Crystel study show that after taking Enbrel for a year, either as continuous or intermittent therapy, patients experienced significant skin clearance as well as – up to 26% improvement in health related quality of life, up to 30% improvement in the prevalence of depression symptoms, up to 27% improvement in the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and up to 53% reduction in joint pain.
Data from another psoriasis trial also showed that the newly-approved European once-weekly dosing regimen of Enbrel provides sustained improvements in patients’ quality of life, while at the same time offering a more flexible and convenient treatment option. The results also showed that patients taking Enbrel 50mg once a week experienced a significant improvement in skin clearance, sustained over time.
No differences were observed in rates of serious infections or malignancies among patients in any groups in either of the trials.
Herve Bachelez, professor of clinical medicine at the Hospital Saint-Louis, Paris in France, said: “By combining these patient reported outcomes, together with the established safety profile and reliable skin clearance, we are now seeing a more complete picture of the benefits of etanercept in patients with psoriasis.
“Furthermore, the Crystel study results complement the existing belief that by treating the disease early and aggressively, we can provide patients with meaningful, long-lasting improvements to their daily lives.”