Amevive
® (
alefacept) is a prescription medication approved for treating moderate-to-severe
plaque psoriasis in adults. It is a "biologic" medication that is given as a weekly intramuscular injection for 12 weeks. Additional courses may be repeated, with at least 12 weeks between courses.
Amevive is made by Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
Amevive is a fusion protein. In other words, it is a part of an antibody that has been fused to a special protein. This medication is thought to work by binding to T-cells (a certain type of immune system cell), preventing them from becoming activated and reducing their number. It is thought that overactive T-cells play a large role in causing the symptoms of plaque psoriasis.
When and How to Take Amevive
Some general considerations to keep in mind during treatment with Amevive include the following:
- Amevive comes in the form of an injection. Your healthcare provider will inject it into a muscle (intramuscularly) once a week for 12 weeks. Various areas of the body may be used.
- Repeated courses may be given, provided that at least 12 weeks have passed and that blood tests show your CD4+ T-cells are within the normal range.
- Your healthcare provider should rotate the injection sites so that the same area is not injected twice in a row.
- For this medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Skipping doses or not finishing the 12-week course will likely reduce the drug's effectiveness.
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