The use of alefacept in the treatment of psoriasis

Alefacept (AMEVIVE or LFA#TIP, Biogen) is the newest effective systemic therapy for chronic plaque psoriasis and was approved by the US FDA in January 2003. Clinical studies have shown that alefacept, given via weekly IM or IV injections for 12 weeks, was well tolerated, with no reported serious adverse events. Most significantly, it was found that alefacept provides a long-lasting remittive effect. These findings support the use of alefacept as a viable treatment of psoriasis, without the toxicities associated with some of the current systemic treatments available.