This study was conducted to examine the relationship between loss of clinical response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy and the production of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) and the potential effects of biologic immunogenicity.
This observational, non-interventional, cross-sectional study included patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and secondary failure of adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab who were seen in the clinical practice setting. Clinical data and blood samples were collected after patient enrollment at the time that next doses of anti-TNF therapy were scheduled. ADA and serum drug concentrations were detected at a central reference laboratory using ELISA.
Among 137 enrolled patients, ADA were identified in 31/65 (48%), 0/47 and 8/19 (42%) of patients treated with adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab, respectively. The presence of ADA was associated with a slightly worse clinical response in adalimumab-treated patients (Physician Global Assessment score: 3.7 vs. 3.2, ADA-positive vs. ADA-negative patients [p < .05]; correlation between serum ADA titer and body surface area: r = .292 [p = .019]). Concomitant DMARDs were not associated with anti-TNF immunogenicity in any treatment group.
Additional evidence is needed from studies of anti-TNF therapy in psoriasis for clinicians to gain a better understanding of the impact of immunogenicity on clinical response.