INTRODUCTION
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease.1,2 While there is currently no cure for psoriasis, treatments are available that are aimed at controlling the disease and improving the patient’s quality of life.3
Topical medications (eg, vitamin D analogs and corticosteroids) are the mainstay of therapy for limited or mild disease, which is the type that occurs in the majority of people.2,4 Among the topical agents, the fixed-dose combination formulation of calcipotriene 0.005% plus betamethasone dipropionate 0.064% (Cal/BD) foam is the preferred treatment option for plaque psoriasis, given the favorable efficacy and safety profile demonstrated in several large, randomized, clinical studies, as well as the benefits of the easy-to-use foam formulation.5-10 Real-world clinical experience with Cal/BD foam mirrors that observed in clinical studies, with a majority of healthcare providers reporting that they prescribe Cal/BD foam for its overall efficacy.11 For more extensive or difficult-to-treat disease, the benefits of combination therapy have been demonstrated in clinical studies, acknowledged by guidelines, and generally accepted in clinical practice; about half of all psoriasis treatments involve the use of combination therapy.12-15 Topical medication, in particular, has been used in combination with different therapies, such as traditional systemic agents. Of the latter, apremilast is a systemic agent of interest. It is an oral, small-molecule phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor that has demonstrated efficacy and safety in pivotal clinical trials and in real-world studies.16-19 Although Cal/BD foam and apremilast are effective and safe on their own, their use in combination had not been evaluated prior to the current study.
With the recent advocation of the treat-to-target strategy by the National Psoriasis Foundation – whereby the goal is to achieve 1% or less of body surface area (BSA) involvement20 – it is becoming increasingly important for both patients and healthcare providers to choose the most effective treatment strategy that will permit the attainment of a more complete response and a favorable clinical outcome. A better understanding of the use
Topical medications (eg, vitamin D analogs and corticosteroids) are the mainstay of therapy for limited or mild disease, which is the type that occurs in the majority of people.2,4 Among the topical agents, the fixed-dose combination formulation of calcipotriene 0.005% plus betamethasone dipropionate 0.064% (Cal/BD) foam is the preferred treatment option for plaque psoriasis, given the favorable efficacy and safety profile demonstrated in several large, randomized, clinical studies, as well as the benefits of the easy-to-use foam formulation.5-10 Real-world clinical experience with Cal/BD foam mirrors that observed in clinical studies, with a majority of healthcare providers reporting that they prescribe Cal/BD foam for its overall efficacy.11 For more extensive or difficult-to-treat disease, the benefits of combination therapy have been demonstrated in clinical studies, acknowledged by guidelines, and generally accepted in clinical practice; about half of all psoriasis treatments involve the use of combination therapy.12-15 Topical medication, in particular, has been used in combination with different therapies, such as traditional systemic agents. Of the latter, apremilast is a systemic agent of interest. It is an oral, small-molecule phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor that has demonstrated efficacy and safety in pivotal clinical trials and in real-world studies.16-19 Although Cal/BD foam and apremilast are effective and safe on their own, their use in combination had not been evaluated prior to the current study.
With the recent advocation of the treat-to-target strategy by the National Psoriasis Foundation – whereby the goal is to achieve 1% or less of body surface area (BSA) involvement20 – it is becoming increasingly important for both patients and healthcare providers to choose the most effective treatment strategy that will permit the attainment of a more complete response and a favorable clinical outcome. A better understanding of the use
