Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Etanercept and Acitretin in Korean Patient With Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

A Multicenter, Randomized, Open Pilot Trial Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Etanercept 50 mg Twice Weekly Followed Etanercept 25mg Twice Weekly, the Combination of Etanercept 25 mg Twice Weekly and Acitretin and Acitretin Alone in Patients With Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

To compare the efficacy of ETN 50mg twice weekly for 12 weeks followed by reduction to a maintenance dose of 25mg twice weekly at week 24 with that of combination of ETN 25 mg Twice Weekly plus Acitretin 10mg BID at week 24 in subjects with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Active, moderate to severe psoriasis defined by the following criteria: Clinically stable, plaque psoriasis involving more than 10% body surface area (BSA) or PASI 10.
• In the opinion of the investigator, failure, intolerance, contraindication or not a candidate for the following: Methotrexate (MTX), cyclosporine, and psoralen plus ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA) therapy.
• Negative urine pregnancy test before the first dose of study drug in all female patients

Exclusion Criteria:

• Evidence of skin conditions (e.g., eczema) other than psoriasis that would interfere with evaluations of the effect of study medication on psoriasis.
• Any rheumatologic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, systemic lupus erythematous, systemic vasculitis, scleroderma and polymyositis, or associated syndromes.
• Prior exposure to TNF inhibitors including ETN. Prior exposure to efalizumab (Raptiva®) and alefacept (Amevive®) is also prohibited.