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For Adult Chronic Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

About Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is a long-term disease of the immune system that causes red scaly patches, often with a silvery scale, to appear on the skin. There are 5 types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, and erythrodermic. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. Approximately 1.5 million American adults suffer from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Plaque Psoriasis Is a Disease of the Immune System

While plaque psoriasis may look like just a skin condition, it is in fact a disease of the immune system. The immune system protects the body from infections and diseases. In patients with plaque psoriasis, certain immune cells are activated and produce too much of a protein called tumor necrosis factor (also known as TNF) a protein produced by the body, usually in response to infections. This protein can cause skin cells to grow too quickly. The skin cells build up and form raised, red patches often with silvery scales, known as plaques. These plaques may itch, be painful, and can bleed. Knowing how plaque psoriasis develops — from inside the body — can help you understand how some treatments, like Enbrel® (etanercept), can help. Get a closer look at how ENBREL works.

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What Does a Plaque Look Like?

This is an example of what plaques can look like. Plaques are raised, red patches, often covered with silvery scales.

Example of one skin area.

Symptoms of Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis causes raised, red patches with silvery scales to appear on the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body, but are most commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. People with plaque psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, then gets better. Factors that cause these "flare-ups" can include:

  • Emotional stress
  • Injury to the skin
  • Some types of infections
  • Reactions to certain drugs
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How Plaque Psoriasis Can Be Treated

There is no cure for plaque psoriasis, but there are a variety of treatments that can help you get clearer skin. Some therapies work on the surface of the skin. Biologics work to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis closer to the source. ENBREL is a prescription medicine that is self-injected. ENBREL, a biologic, blocks the activity of excess TNF that is associated with plaque psoriasis. This helps slow the growth of skin cells before they cause plaques to appear on the skin. Learn more about results with ENBREL. Because ENBREL works on your immune system, it can lower your ability to fight infections and may raise other safety concerns. If you have any sign of an infection including a fever, cough, flu-like symptoms, or have any open sores on your body, call your doctor. Please see Full Prescribing Information, Important Safety Information, and Medication Guide for complete details about ENBREL.

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"Psoriasis changed me. I used to walk around all covered up. I even wore my hair long to cover the backs of my ears." Your results may vary. Gilbert H., moderate to severe plaque psoriasis patient and ENBREL user

Prescription ENBREL is given by injection

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about ENBREL?

ENBREL is a medicine that affects your immune system. ENBREL can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Serious infections have happened in patients taking ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections. Your doctor should test you for TB before you take ENBREL and monitor you closely for TB before, during, and after ENBREL treatment, even if you have tested negative for TB.

There have been some cases of unusual cancers reported in children and teenage patients who started using tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers before 18 years of age. Also, for children, teenagers, and adults taking TNF blockers, including ENBREL, the chances of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. Patients with RA or psoriasis may be more likely to get lymphoma.

Before starting ENBREL, tell your doctor if you:

  • Have any existing medical conditions
  • Are taking any medicines, including herbals
  • Think you have, are being treated for, have signs of, or are prone to infection. You should not start taking ENBREL if you have any kind of infection, unless your doctor says it is okay
  • Have any open cuts or sores
  • Have diabetes, HIV, or a weak immune system
  • Have TB or have been in close contact with someone who has had TB
  • Were born in, lived in, or traveled to countries where there is more risk for getting TB. Ask your doctor if you are not sure
  • Live, have lived in, or traveled to certain parts of the country (such as, the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, or the Southwest) where there is a greater risk for certain kinds of fungal infections, such as histoplasmosis. These infections may develop or become more severe if you take ENBREL. If you don't know if these infections are common in the areas you've been to, ask your doctor
  • Have or have had hepatitis B
  • Have or have had heart failure
  • Develop symptoms such as persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness while taking ENBREL
  • Use the medicine Kineret® (anakinra), Orencia® (abatacept), or Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide)
  • Are taking anti-diabetic medicines
  • Have, have had, or develop a serious nervous disorder, seizures, any numbness or tingling, or a disease that affects your nervous system such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • Are scheduled to have surgery
  • Have recently received or are scheduled for any vaccines. All vaccines should be brought up-to-date before starting ENBREL. Patients taking ENBREL should not receive live vaccines.
  • Are allergic to rubber or latex
  • Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
  • Have been around someone with chicken pox

What are the possible side effects of ENBREL?

ENBREL can cause serious side effects including: New infections or worsening of infections you already have; hepatitis B can become active if you already have had it; nervous system problems, such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes; blood problems (some fatal); new or worsening heart failure; new or worsening psoriasis; allergic reactions; autoimmune reactions, including a lupus-like syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis.

Common side effects include: Injection site reactions, upper respiratory infections (sinus infections), and headache.

These are not all the side effects with ENBREL. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss them with your doctor. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see accompanying Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

INDICATION

Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

ENBREL is indicated for the treatment of adult patients (18 years or older) with chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Supportive data

Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

  • In medical studies, nearly half of patients saw a significant improvement in their plaque psoriasis within 3 months of using ENBREL. Overall, 3 out of 4 patients saw improvement. ENBREL can work fast; many patients saw improvement within 2 months.
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Safety Considerations

Safety information about Enbrel® (etanercept)

Serious infections have happened in patients taking ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections. Patients treated with ENBREL also may be at risk for other serious side effects including nervous system problems, such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes; rare reports of serious blood problems (some fatal); heart failure, including new heart failure or worsening of heart failure you already have; new or worsening psoriasis; allergic reactions; immune reactions, including a lupus-like syndrome, lymphoma (a type of cancer) and other cancers. Call your doctor right away if you develop any of these. To see the full ENBREL Safety Information, click here.

Video: Treating Plaque Psoriasis Closer to the Source

Watch as dermatologist Craig Leonardi explains how plaque psoriasis is a disease of the immune system and how ENBREL targets the immune system to reduce the overproduction of skin cells in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

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