AMEVIVE® (alefacept)

Physicians have been trying to solve the mysteries of psoriasis for almost two millennia. Hippocrates, writing in the fourth century B.C., included psoriasis in a class of skin disorders that he called "lupoi." He described lupoi as a skin disease characterized by dry, scaly, sub-epidermal eruptions. Both psoriasis and leprosy fit this description and, for many years, they were often confused with each other.

The confusion between psoriasis and leprosy continued for many centuries, as did the brutal and alienating treatment for those suffering from the diseases. From A.D. 1000 to 1400, people with psoriasis were publicly shunned, declared dead by the Church and even burned at the stake.

The tide began to turn in the nineteenth century. Dr. Robert Willan, often considered the father of modern English dermatology, provided an accurate description of psoriasis in 1808. His work provided the foundation for Dr. Ferdinand Hebra's research into the disease in 1841. Doctor Hebra, of the Vienna School of Dermatology, is credited with definitively separating the clinical definition of psoriasis from that of leprosy.

Psoriasis Timeline

1806		Thomas Girdlestone writes article on "Fowler's solution," an arsenic mixture. Arsenic remains a treatment option for psoriasis into the mid-1990s.
1808		Dr. Robert Willan develops first accurate description of psoriasis.
1841		Dr. Ferdinand Hebra identifies psoriasis and leprosy as two distinct diseases.
1923		First reported use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is demonstrated as effective in clearing psoriasis lesions.
1924		X-rays are recognized as a treatment option for psoriasis.
1925		Dr. William Goeckerman, Mayo Clinic, develops combination regimen of coal tar and UV radiation as a treatment for psoriasis.
1953		John Ingram develops the "Ingram regimen," combining coal tar, ultraviolet B (UVB) light and anthralin (a topical cream) to treat psoriasis.
1961		Occlusion as a psoriasis treatment is first described. This treatment involves covering the skin with a topical steroid and sealing with an airtight, waterproof wrapping.
1972		The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves methotrexate for treating psoriasis. Methotrexate was first developed as an anti-cancer agent.
1976		Dialysis therapy for psoriasis is reported to be effective, sparking a short-lived interest in this treatment.
1979		Cyclosporine is a drug that suppresses the immune system. Two Swiss researchers studying cyclosporine in rheumatoid arthritis unexpectedly discover that the drug clears patients' psoriasis.
2003		AMEVIVE® (alefacept) is the first FDA-approved biologic for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Important Safety Information
Commonly observed adverse events that occurred in clinical studies more frequently with AMEVIVE® (alefacept) included: sore throat, dizziness, increased cough, nausea, itching, muscle aches, chills, injection site pain, injection site inflammation, and accidental injury.

AMEVIVE must be administered under the supervision of a physician.

AMEVIVE reduces lymphocyte counts (also called T-cells). T-cell levels should be measured weekly during the 12-week dosing period.

AMEVIVE reduces immune cell counts, which could increase your chance of developing infection or malignancy, which you should discuss with your doctor. If you develop any signs of infection or malignancy while undergoing a course of treatment with AMEVIVE, you should notify your doctor.

AMEVIVE should not be taken if you are known to be allergic to AMEVIVE or any of its components.

If you become pregnant while you are receiving AMEVIVE or within 8 weeks of finishing AMEVIVE, notify your doctor and consider enrolling in the Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-866-AMEVIVE.