Although adalimumab has shown strong efficacy and safety in clinical trials, real-world evidence in Australian patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis is limited. This study assessed adalimumab efficacy and drug survival in routine clinical practice, comparing outcomes with the Phase 3 REVEAL trial and its open-label extension.
Methods
Data were extracted from the Australasian Psoriasis Registry for adults meeting Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme criteria to be prescribed adalimumab for chronic plaque psoriasis. Baseline demographics, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and treatment history between June 2006 and March 2022 were analysed. Drug survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression.
Results
A total of 306 patients were included; 59.8% had prior biologic exposure compared to 12.8% in REVEAL. The mean baseline PASI was 24.1 and at 3 months, 63.5% achieved PASI75 while 33.6% achieved PASI90. PASI90 responses remained stable through 3 years and exceeded REVEAL extension rates beyond 18 months. Median drug survival was 27.9 months; survival was 97.7%, 78.6%, 63.7% and 51.0% at 3, 9, 15 and 27 months, respectively. Male sex and achieving PASI ≤ 2 predicted longer drug survival.
Conclusions
In Australian real-world practice, adalimumab demonstrated sustained effectiveness and drug survival in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis comparable to RCTs, despite higher baseline disease severity and greater prior biologic exposure.
