ABSTRACT
Adalimumab is the most widely used biologic agent for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. It was the third tumor necrosis factor-a inhibitor and first fully human monoclonal antibody to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Adalimumab is administered as a subcutaneous injection, which the patient can self-administer with a prefilled injection pen or regular syringe. The Adalimumab Effectiveness in Psoriatic Arthritis Trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of adalimumab therapy in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Patients included had a history of inadequate response to nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Adalimumab carries two black box warnings involving fatal infections and tuberculosis that pertain to all tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, including adalimumab. Serious and potentially fatal infections including tuberculosis and invasive fungal and other opportunistic infections have been reported in patients receiving TNF-blocking agents, including adalimumab.
