Dermatology Handbook

The professional's guide to product selection

Adalimumab (Humira)

AbbVie

Description

Immunosuppressant tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) inhibitor that binds specifically to TNF and neutralises the biological function of TNF by blocking its interaction with the p55 and p75 cell surface TNF receptors. It also modulates biological responses that are induced or regulated by TNF, including changes in the levels of adhesion molecules responsible for leukocyte migration (ELAM-1, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 with an IC50 of 0.1-0.2 nM).

Indications

Active and progressive psoriatic arthritis in adults when the response to previous disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy has been inadequate; moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy; severe chronic plaque psoriasis in children and adolescents from 4 years of age who have had an inadequate response to or are inappropriate candidates for topical therapy and phototherapies; active moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age with an inadequate response to conventional systemic therapy

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients; active tuberculosis or other severe infections such as sepsis, and opportunistic infections; moderate to severe heart failure (NYHA class III/IV)

Price

20mg/0.2ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe (2), £352.14; 40mg/0.4ml solution for injection in disposable device/pre-filled syringe (2), £704.28

More on: Systemic psoriasis treatments