Individual Article: Brodalumab Is an Efficacious, Safe, and Cost-Effective IL-17 Receptor Blocker for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: 2023 Update

October 2023 | Volume 22 | Issue 10 | SF378632s5 | Copyright © October 2023


Published online September 29, 2023

Naiem T. Issa MD PhDa,b, Leon Kircik MDc

aForefront Dermatology, Vienna, VA 
bIssa Research & Consulting, LLC, Springfield, VA 
cIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Physicians Skin Care, PLLC, Louisville, KY;  DermResearch, PLLC, Louisville, KY; Skin Sciences, PLLC, Louisville, KY

cost-effective therapeutic based on at-approval cost estimates as the study was conducted at the end of 2016 and brodalumab was approved in February 2017. However, an update of the ICER calculations by Hendrix et al in May 2017 based on the updated wholesale acquisition costs estimated brodalumab to be the most cost-effective therapeutic.5,40 

Feldman et al created an economic model in 2018 to assess the impact of brodalumab on pharmacy budget of US commercial healthcare plans.41 Prior to brodalumab approval, the total annual pharmacy budget for biologics was estimated at $414,362,647. With the introduction of brodalumab where usage comprised 3% to 30% of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients, they estimated a reduction of the total annual pharmacy cost to be between $3,698,129 and $36,981,290. 


CONCLUSION

Brodalumab, the first-in-class IL-17 receptor inhibitor, is a safe and effective therapeutic for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Despite no head-to-head comparisons, brodalumab appears to exhibit faster efficacy compared to IL-17A inhibitors. Brodalumab also has demonstrated efficacy in circumstances where patients have failed IL-17A inhibitors and were switched to brodalumab. In addition, brodalumab has been successful for difficult-to-treat areas such as the nails, scalp, palms, and soles. The latest 4-year pharmacovigilance analytics also reveal no new suicide behavior signals attesting to very low risk of use in a population whose quality of life is so significantly affected by widespread psoriasis. Furthermore, economic analysis of brodalumab usage suggests its utility in lowering healthcare costs in the US given its cost-effectiveness. Thus, brodalumab is an excellent addition to the psoriasis toolkit. 

DISCLOSURES

Leon Kircik MD has served as either a speaker, consultant, advisor or an investigator for Abbott Laboratories, Abbvie, Allergan, Inc., Almirall, Amgen, Inc., Arcutis, Biogen-Idec, BMS, Boehringer-Ingleheim, Breckinridge Pharma, Celgene, Centocor, Inc., Cellceutix, Cipher, Combinatrix, Connetics Corporation, Coria, Dermavant, Dermira, Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences, Inc., Dr. Reddy’s Lab, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Genentech, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Idera, Johnson & Johnson, Leo, Maruho, Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., Merck, Nimbus, Novartis AG, Ortho Dermatologics, PharmaDerm, Pfizer, Promius, Serono (Merck Serono International SA), Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., Sun Pharma, Taro, UCB, Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl, Ventyx, and XenoPort.
 

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AUTHOR CORRESPONDENCE

Leon Kircik MD wedoderm@yahoo.com
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