Real-World Retention and Clinical Effectiveness of Secukinumab for Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From the Canadian Spondyloarthritis Research Network.

Objective: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory condition consisting of 2 clinical subsets: nonradiographic axSpA and ankylosing spondylitis, the latter having an estimated prevalence of 0.2% to 1% in Canada. Secukinumab (SEC) received Health Canada approval in 2016 for the treatment of adults with axSpA who have responded inadequately to conventional treatment, and has demonstrated efficacy and safety through extensive clinical trials.

Real-World Retention and Clinical Effectiveness of Secukinumab for Psoriatic Arthritis: Results From the Canadian Spondyloarthritis Research Network.

Objective: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling of peripheral joints, with an estimated prevalence in Canada of 0.45%. Treatment aims to minimize disease activity, reduce progression of damage, and improve quality of life.

A Review of the Totality of Evidence for the Development and Approval of ABP 710 (AVSOLA), an Infliximab Biosimilar.

ABP 710 (AVSOLA) is a biosimilar to infliximab reference product (RP), a monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). It is approved in the USA and Canada for all the same indications as infliximab RP. Approval of ABP 710 was based on the totality of evidence (TOE) generated using a stepwise approach to assess its similarity with infliximab RP with regard to analytical (structural and functional) characteristics, pharmacokinetic parameters, and clinical efficacy and safety.

Ustekinumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in paediatric patients (≥ 6 to < 12 years of age): efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetic and biomarker results from the open-label CADMUS Jr study.

Background: Limited options are available for treatment of paediatric psoriasis.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in paediatric patients with psoriasis (≥ 6 to < 12 years of age).

Methods: CADMUS Jr, a phase III, open-label, single-arm, multicentre study, evaluated ustekinumab in paediatric patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Approach to the Assessment and Management of Pediatric Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: A Consensus Document. Section I: Overview of Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis.

Pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common dermatoses encountered by health-care providers treating children. Diagnosis of AD is clinical, with no universally accepted biomarkers or assessment tools. Patient-reported outcomes and subjective assessments of quality of life in both the patient and family are important considerations when treating pediatric AD.

Approach to the Assessment and Management of Pediatric Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: A Consensus Document. Section IV: Consensus Statements on the Assessment and Management of Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis.

This document is intended to provide practical guidance to physicians treating pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD), especially dermatologists, pediatricians, allergists, and other health-care professionals. The recommendations contained here were formalized based on a consensus of 12 Canadian pediatric dermatologists, dermatologists, pediatricians, and pediatric allergists with extensive experience managing AD in the pediatric population. A modified Delphi process was adopted with iterative voting on a 5-point Likert scale, with a prespecified agreement cutoff of 75%.

Management of pediatric plaque psoriasis using biologics.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with clinical manifestations of the skin that affect adults and children. In adults, biologics have revolutionized the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis where clear or almost clear is a tangible goal. Research on biologics has recently been extended to children.

Clinical Insights About Topical Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Pediatric and Adult Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, also referred to as atopic eczema, that is identified by itching and recurrent eczematous lesions. It often starts in infancy where it affects up to 20% of children but is also highly prevalent in adults. AD inflicts a significant psychosocial burden on patients and their families and increases the risk of other immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, food allergy, and mental health disorders.

Approach to the Assessment and Management of Adult Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: A Consensus Document. Section V: Consensus Statements on the Assessment and Management of Adult Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis.

This document is a concise, current, and practical guide for dermatologists and other health care providers managing adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). The recommendations made here are based on a consensus of specialists with extensive experience managing patients with AD. Topics reviewed in this publication include AD pathophysiology, assessment, comorbidities, and treatment options.

Approach to the Assessment and Management of Adult Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: A Consensus Document.

Background:: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, and remitting inflammatory skin disease with complex pathophysiology, primarily driven by type 2 inflammation. Existing guidelines often do not reflect all current therapeutic options and guidance on the practical management of patients with AD is lacking.

Objectives:: To develop practical, up-to-date guidance on the assessment and management of adult patients with AD.

Patterns and predictors of long-term retention of inflammatory bowel or rheumatoid disease patients on innovator infliximab: an analysis of a Canadian prescriptions claims database.

Background: Long-term effectiveness is an important factor when considering treatment decisions.

Objective: To determine the long-term retention patterns of Canadian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatologic disease (RD) patients, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, treated with innovator infliximab (IFX) and to assess the impact of year-over-year cumulative IFX exposure on retention in both patient populations.

Patients And Methods: This analysis used a Canadian longitudinal prescription claims database to measure retention on IFX over a period of 5 years.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Novel Model of Care and an Integrative Strategy to Adopt an Orphan Disease.

Unnecessary investigations, inappropriate treatment, worsening disease, and frustration for both patients and health care professionals are the hallmarks of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) management. In light of a new treatment algorithm and biologic therapies made available to patients, an HS model of care is outlined in this article. The recommendations and management strategy presented here have been developed to help address the currently unmet needs of this patient population.

Apremilast for the treatment of moderate-to-severe palmoplantar psoriasis: results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.

Background: Palmoplantar psoriasis is a variant of psoriasis vulgaris which can severely impair quality of life.

Objectives: The main objectives of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study were to assess the efficacy and impact on quality of life and work productivity of apremilast for the treatment of moderate-to-severe palmoplantar psoriasis.

Methods: A total of 100 patients with moderate-to-severe palmoplantar psoriasis were randomized to either apremilast 30 mg bid or placebo for 16 weeks.

Efficacy and safety of adalimumab every other week versus methotrexate once weekly in children and adolescents with severe chronic plaque psoriasis: a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial.

Background: Adalimumab is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis in adults. We assessed the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in children and adolescents with severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods: This randomised, double-blind, multiperiod, phase 3 trial was done at 38 clinics in 13 countries.

CanVasc Recommendations for the Management of Antineutrophil Cytoplasm Antibody-associated Vasculitides.

Objective: The Canadian Vasculitis research network (CanVasc) is composed of physicians from different medical specialties and researchers with expertise in vasculitis. One of its aims is to develop recommendations for the diagnosis and management of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) in Canada.

Methods: Diagnostic and therapeutic questions were developed based on the results of a national needs assessment survey.

Experience with subcutaneous abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis: an update for clinicians.

Abatacept is recommended by several expert consensus groups including the 2013 update of the EULAR recommendations for the pharmacologic management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as a potential choice for biologic therapy for patients with RA. Initially developed, studied, and approved as an intravenous (IV) formulation, abatacept is now also available as a subcutaneous (SC) injection. Having both options available makes abatacept a particularly versatile agent for the management of RA, greatly expanding the population of patients who could benefit from this treatment.

High prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in a cohort of patients with psoriasis seen in a dermatology practice.

Background/objectives: The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is expected to range from 5 to 40% in individuals with psoriasis. The objective of this study was to quantify the prevalence of PsA in psoriasis patients seen in a dermatology practice and to define their characteristics using the validated Psoriatic Arthritis Screening Questionnaire (PASQ).

Methods: Patients with definite plaque psoriasis (as determined by a dermatologist) completed the self-administered PASQ tool, and patients with a score ≥ 7 or ≥ 9 were assessed by a rheumatologist to ascertain the diagnosis of PsA according to the CASPAR (Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis) criteria.

Prevalence of patient-reported comorbidities in early and established psoriatic arthritis cohorts.

The aim of this study is to describe the comorbidity profile in patients with early and established psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Patients with PsA were selected from a registry of patients with psoriasis in Newfoundland. Patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis according to the CASPAR classification criteria are entered in the registry at the time of diagnosis, questioned on their medical history, and are followed indefinitely.

Efficacy outcomes in patients using alefacept in the AWARE study.

Background: Alefacept has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials of patients with chronic plaque psoriasis, either as monotherapy or combined with other treatment modalities such as phototherapy.

Objective: AWARE (Amevive Wisdom Acquired from Real-World Evidence) is a multicenter, observational, phase IV Canadian registry of psoriasis patients treated with alefacept.

Methods: Patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were treated with at least one course of alefacept, either alone or added on to their existing antipsoriatic treatment regimen.

Efficacy and safety of etanercept in children and adolescents aged > or = 8 years with severe plaque psoriasis.

Etanercept, a fully human soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha receptor, is approved in Europe for treatment of severe plaque psoriasis in children > or = 8 years. The efficacy and safety of etanercept for this population was evaluated in a retrospective analysis of a previous study, which included 211 children (4-17 years) with psoriasis involving > or = 10% body surface area and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) > or = 12. In this subanalysis, subjects aged 8-17 years received once-weekly subcutaneous etanercept 0.

Comparative overview of safety of the biologics in rheumatoid arthritis.

Six biologic agents are currently available in Canada for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA): abatacept, adalimumab, anakinra, etanercept, infliximab, and rituximab. Although they are generally considered to be safe and well tolerated, concerns have been raised regarding the use of biologic therapies in the treatment of RA. The new biologic agents abatacept and rituximab have novel mechanisms of action, and may therefore offer different safety profiles.