Abstract
Ustekinumab (Stelara®), the only approved biological agent that acts as an antagonist of interleukin-12/23, is an effective and generally well tolerated option for the treatment of adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. In a phase 3 trial in this patient population, subcutaneous ustekinumab improved symptoms and health-related quality of life, and had a tolerability profile similar to that observed in adults. Based on the results of this trial, the approved indication of ustekinumab in the EU was recently expanded to include the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adolescents aged ≥12 years who are inadequately controlled by or intolerant to other systemic therapies or phototherapies.
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Acknowledgments
This article was reviewed by: A. D. Akkaya, V. K. Foundation American Hospital of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey; S. Feldman, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Y. Yeniay, Gölcük Military Hospital, Gölcük, Turkey. During the peer review process, the manufacturer of ustekinumab was also offered an opportunity to review this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.
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The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.
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K. McKeage and K. A. Lyseng-Williamson are salaried employees of Adis/Springer, are responsible for the article content and declare no conflicts of interest.
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McKeage, K., Lyseng-Williamson, K.A. Ustekinumab in adolescents with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: a guide to its use. Drugs Ther Perspect 32, 138–142 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-016-0287-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-016-0287-4