PISCES: Adalimumab Biosimilar Achieves PASI75 in 81% of Children With Severe Psoriasis

The first prospective study of an adalimumab biosimilar in Chinese children with severe plaque psoriasis showed significant clinical response through 16 weeks and no reported adverse events.

The multicenter PISCES study, published in Dermatology and Therapy, included 80 patients aged 4 to 18 years who received weight-based dosing of GELELI (QLETLI in the UK), which was described by the investigators as the first adalimumab biosimilar approved in China. 

Adalimumab Biosimilar Achieves PASI75 in 81% at Week 16

The primary endpoints were the proportions of patients achieving at least 75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI75) and a Physician Global Assessment (PGA) score of 0 or 1 at week 16.

According to the results, mean PASI decreased from 15.31 at baseline to 6.29 at week 4. By week 12, PASI50, PASI90, and PASI100 response rates were 91.1%, 49.4%, and 21.5%, respectively. At week 16, 81.0% of patients achieved PASI75 and 68.4% achieved PGA 0/1. Adverse events occurred in 82.5% of participants, while 62.5% saw adverse drug reactions. No serious adverse events were reported in the abstract.  The authors noted the applicability was limited by the study's lack of a comparator group and short follow-up.

“The biosimilar demonstrates efficacy and safety in the treatment of Chinese children with severe plaque psoriasis, consistent with clinical trial data for the originator drug,” the authors concluded.

Source

Huang Y, et al. Dermatology and Therapy. 2026. Doi:10.1007/s13555-026-01897-6