The intensified subcutaneous regimen consisted of 17.5 mg/week initially, escalated to 22.5 mg/week after 8 weeks if a patient hadn’t achieved at least a PASI 50 response at that point. The primary outcome, the PASI 75 response at week 16, was 41% in the subcutaneous methotrexate group and 10% in controls, with a maximum PASI 75 rate of 51% seen beginning at week 24. The week 4 and 8 PASI 50 rates were 50% and 58%, respectively, with methotrexate versus 3% and 17% in placebo-treated controls. The subcutaneous regimen was generally well tolerated, with no serious infections or malignancies arising during 52 weeks (Lancet. 2017 Feb 4;389[10068]:528-37).
Dr. Wu reported receiving research funding from AbbVie, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, and Regeneron.
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