| Generic Drug Name | Brand Name | Dosing Frequency | Unique Benefit | Unique Concerns |
| Efalizumab | Raptiva® | Once weekly | Weight-based dosing ideal for heavier patients; little systemic toxicity | New rashes while on treatment; development or worsening of arthritis symtptoms |
| Etanercept | Enbrel® | Twice weekly for three months then once weekly | Exellent for both skin and joint psoriasis | Demyelinating disorders like multiple sclerosis (rarely) |
| Adalimumab | Humira® | Twice monthly | As per Enbrel, with less frequent dosing | As per enbrel |
| Alefacept | Amivieve® | Once weekly in office x 12 weeks | Sustained clearing after course of treatment (+/- 1 year) | Bi-weekly blood tests during treatment period (12 weeks) |
Biologic Drug Comparison Table
The Four Leading Biologic Drugs for Psoriasis
By Dean Goodless, M.D., About.com
Updated: April 15, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD
With so many biologic drugs for psoriasis available and many more on the horizon, how do we know which one is best for any given patient? While there are many medical considerations your doctor must take into account when prescribing biologics, there are a few key features that patients should be aware of in order to be a part of that decision-making process. These are summarized in the chart below.
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