Kyntheum (Brodalumab) - NICE Approves New Biologic Treatment for Psoriasis

Kyntheum (Brodalumab) is recommended for the treatment of severe plaque psoriasis in adults in England and Wales.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published its decision to recommend the biologic medication Kyntheum (also known by its generic name, Brodalumab) as a treatment option for adults with severe plaque psoriasis in England and Wales. 

Kyntheum is recommended as an option for treating plaque psoriasis in adults, only if:

• The person's psoriasis is severe, as defined by a total Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) of 10 or more and a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of more than 10, and;
• The person's psoriasis has not responded to conventional systemic treatments (including ciclosporin, methotrexate and PUVA), or they cannot tolerate these treatments.

How does Kyntheum work?

Kyntheum blocks the activity of interleukin 17A (IL-17A), a chemical ’messenger’ in the immune system that signals other cells to cause inflammation. In people with psoriasis, the immune system is overactive and creates too much inflammation, which leads to the development of psoriasis symptoms. By blocking IL-17A, Kyntheum aims to prevent some of that inflammation from occurring, leading to an improvement in psoriasis for some people who take it.

Other biologic medications that block the activity of IL-17A, called Cosentyx (Secukinumab) and Taltz (Ixekizumab) are currently available for people with severe psoriasis.

How is Kyntheum used?

Individuals take Kyntheum at home by giving themselves an injection under the skin via a pre-filled syringe. Most people will be trained by a nurse to give the injection to themselves. The first doses are taken once a week for the first three weeks, but after that Kyntheum is usually taken every two weeks.

People taking Kyntheum will have regular blood tests every three to six months - usually carried out by Dermatology Nurses, or by their own GP - to monitor for infections or other possible effects of the treatment. People taking Kyntheum are more at risk of infections and so should be vaccinated against pneumonia and have an annual flu vaccination. However, not all vaccinations are safe in people taking Kyntheum; ‘live’ vaccinations should be avoided. Check with a doctor or nurse before having any vaccinations or taking other medication if you are not sure.

For more information about Kyntheum, have a read of our information sheet.