REAL-WORLD TREATMENT PATTERNS AMONG SPECIAL POPULATIONS IN CANADA WITH PSORIASIS INVOLVING HIGH-RISK SITES
Author(s)
Ronald Vender, MD1, Andrew Ho, MSc, HBSc2, Maria Gabriela Tinajero, MSc, HBSc2, Christopher Pettengell, MD2, Clarabella Yim, MSc, BSc3, Brett Stephenson, PharmD3.
1Division of Dermatology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 2Healwell AI, Toronto, ON, Canada, 3Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc., Westlake Village, CA, USA.
1Division of Dermatology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, 2Healwell AI, Toronto, ON, Canada, 3Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc., Westlake Village, CA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To determine patient characteristic patterns in the use of biologic therapies, among special populations in Canada with psoriasis affecting high-risk sites.
METHODS: This retrospective chart review of Canadian patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis from 30-June-2025 to 30-May-2026 was conducted using the nationally representative DERMAID database. Data were extracted using DARWENTM, a validated artificial intelligence platform that extracts unstructured clinical data from patients’ electronic medical records into DERMAID. Data included a plaque psoriasis diagnosis, the presence of high-risk site involvement (scalp, face, genitals, and intertriginous areas; not mutually exclusive), and the initiation of biologic treatment(s) specific to plaque psoriasis. Body surface area affected (BSA), and benefit coverage were also extracted, to understand their effects on treatment patterns.
RESULTS: In the DERMAID database, 78.0% of patients with plaque psoriasis who initiated biologic therapy had a plaque present in at least one high-risk site. More than half of the patients presented with scalp involvement (63.5%), followed by the face (41.9%), genitals (25.5%), and intertriginous areas (23.4%). Of the patients with high-risk site involvement, 15.4% had a BSA <10% at the time of initiating a biologic agent. The most common payer for patients with <10% BSA and high-risk site involvement was public coverage (46.7%).
CONCLUSIONS: Over half of patients who initiated biologic therapy for plaque psoriasis during the previous year had high-risk site involvement. Scalp was the most common high-risk site involved, followed by intertriginous areas, the face, and genitals. Even when BSA <10% was present, indicative of mild-to-moderate psoriasis that can be managed topically, a sizable proportion of patients (78.0%) received biologic therapy. Finally, the most common payer for these patients was public coverage. Innovative topical treatments indicated for the treatment of psoriasis of the scalp, face, genitals, and intertriginous areas that can be used prior to biologic therapy are currently underutilized in this special population.
METHODS: This retrospective chart review of Canadian patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis from 30-June-2025 to 30-May-2026 was conducted using the nationally representative DERMAID database. Data were extracted using DARWENTM, a validated artificial intelligence platform that extracts unstructured clinical data from patients’ electronic medical records into DERMAID. Data included a plaque psoriasis diagnosis, the presence of high-risk site involvement (scalp, face, genitals, and intertriginous areas; not mutually exclusive), and the initiation of biologic treatment(s) specific to plaque psoriasis. Body surface area affected (BSA), and benefit coverage were also extracted, to understand their effects on treatment patterns.
RESULTS: In the DERMAID database, 78.0% of patients with plaque psoriasis who initiated biologic therapy had a plaque present in at least one high-risk site. More than half of the patients presented with scalp involvement (63.5%), followed by the face (41.9%), genitals (25.5%), and intertriginous areas (23.4%). Of the patients with high-risk site involvement, 15.4% had a BSA <10% at the time of initiating a biologic agent. The most common payer for patients with <10% BSA and high-risk site involvement was public coverage (46.7%).
CONCLUSIONS: Over half of patients who initiated biologic therapy for plaque psoriasis during the previous year had high-risk site involvement. Scalp was the most common high-risk site involved, followed by intertriginous areas, the face, and genitals. Even when BSA <10% was present, indicative of mild-to-moderate psoriasis that can be managed topically, a sizable proportion of patients (78.0%) received biologic therapy. Finally, the most common payer for these patients was public coverage. Innovative topical treatments indicated for the treatment of psoriasis of the scalp, face, genitals, and intertriginous areas that can be used prior to biologic therapy are currently underutilized in this special population.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
RWD185
Topic
Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)