Efficacy of Apremilast in Patients with Moderate Psoriasis, Including High-Impact Site Involvement: A Pooled Analysis of Six Trials
Recommended Citation
Strober B, Lebwohl M, van de Kerkhof P, Stein Gold L, Merola JF, Okubo Y, Gisondi P, Zhou Z, Chaudhari S, Deginan C, Mrowietz U. Efficacy of Apremilast in Patients with Moderate Psoriasis, Including High-Impact Site Involvement: A Pooled Analysis of Six Trials. J Am Acad Dermatol 2026; 95(1):AB190.
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
7-1-2026
Publication Title
J Am Acad Dermatol
Keywords
Dermatology
Abstract
Plaque psoriasis can significantly impact quality-of-life, even with limited skin involvement. We assessed efficacy of apremilast in patients with psoriasis with affected body surface area (BSA) 3-10%, including some patients with high-impact site (HIS) involvement in scalp, nails, or genitals. Patients were pooled from five placebo-controlled trials (randomized to apremilast or placebo until Week 16 [Wk16] followed by open-label apremilast; 1–5) and one open-label, single-arm apremilast trial (6). Assessments through Wk32 included achievement of BSA ≤1%/≤3%, 75% reduction from baseline BSA (BSA-75), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score <3, Static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) score 0/1, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score 0/1, Scalp PGA (ScPGA) score 0/1 (score ≥2 at baseline), percent change from baseline in Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI; score >1 at baseline), and sPGA-Genitalia (sPGA-G) score 0/1 (score ≥2 at baseline); non-responder imputation for missing data. In total, 1152 patients were included (HIS involvement: scalp, 62.5 %; nails, 32.6 %; genitals, 22.4%); 671 patients were randomized to apremilast and 481 to placebo. Baseline characteristics were generally similar between treatment arms (mean BSA: apremilast, 6.3%; placebo, 6.2%). At Wk16, apremilast significantly improved skin clearance and quality-of-life vs placebo (p<0.0001 for BSA ≤1%/≤3%, BSA-75, PASI <3, sPGA 0/1, DLQI 0/1). At Wk32, efficacy was maintained or improved with apremilast. Apremilast also yielded improvements by HIS (at Wk16, p<0.01 vs placebo for ScPGA 0/1, NAPSI, sPGA-G 0/1, DLQI 0/1). Pooled data from multiple apremilast trials demonstrate that apremilast improves skin clearance and quality-of-life in patients with moderate psoriasis, including HIS involvement.
Volume
95
Issue
1
First Page
AB190
