Section : Conference Notes

Ustekinumab (Stelara) in the Treatment of Psoriasis

  • Ustekinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody against the common p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23.
  • Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of ustekinumab have demonstrated significant and prolonged efficacy in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
  • Adverse events were generally similar across treatment and control groups. Studies are ongoing to assess the long term safety and efficacy profiles of ustekinumab.
  • The dose is 45 mg (for patients <100 kg) or 90 mg (for patients >100 kg) every 12 weeks after two initial doses four weeks apart.
  • Not only does ustekinumab compare favorably with the best available therapies for psoriasis, the maintenance of response between injections every 3 months also provides a more convenient treatment regimen than those currently available.
  • Since it is the first IL-12/23 blocker approved for use in humans, many questions remain including long-term safety of ustekinumab in terms of infections and malignancies and whether waning efficacy will develop as with the other biologic agents.

Kalb. R 2013 (07) – Kalb. R. Treatment of Psoriasis in the Age of Biologics – 25th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Dermatological Society of Singapore (DSS) – Singapore