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Etanercept

Editor: Valerie Gerriets Updated: 7/24/2023 9:49:30 PM

Indications

Etanercept is a biologic TNF inhibitor commonly used to control ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Etanercept is a soluble receptor that binds both TNF-alpha and TNF-beta to inhibit the inflammatory response in joints and skin that is characteristic of these autoimmune disorders. The drug can be used as a monotherapy or taken with other immunosuppressants, such as methotrexate.[1]

Clinicians can use etanercept for both approved and off-label indications.[2][3][4][5]

FDA Approved Uses

  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (2 years or older)
  • Plaque psoriasis (4 years or older)
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Off-label Uses (not FDA approved)

  • Acute graft-versus-host disease (combined with methylprednisolone)
  • Behcet disease
  • Hidradenitis suppurativa 
  • Kawasaki disease 
  • Pemphigus vulgaris 
  • Pustular psoriasis 
  • Pyoderma gangrenosum 
  • Scleroderma/systemic sclerosis 
  • Still disease 

Mechanism of Action

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Mechanism of Action

Etanercept is a biologic tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor; the drug acts as a soluble TNF receptor and binds TNF-alpha and TNF-beta.[6] TNF is a cytokine that can bind to TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) or TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) and is involved in inflammation and the immune response.[7] TNF binds to TNFR1 or TNFR2, activating important inflammatory pathways, such as NFkB and MAPK. The structure of etanercept consists of two p75 TNF receptors fused to the Fc portion of human IgG.[6] Etanercept works by blocking the effects of TNF-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine that becomes elevated in psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Administration

Etanercept administration is via subcutaneous injection, usually on the thigh, lower abdomen, or upper arm. If given on the abdomen, the injection should not be within the 2-inch area around the navel. Injections should be administered at least 1 inch away from previous injection sites. The medication comes in a pre-filled syringe, automatic injection device, or multiple-dose vial. After the initial injection of etanercept at the clinician’s office, the patient can self-inject at home with appropriate training.[8]

To treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, 50 mg of etanercept is injected once a week. An alternative dosing regimen is 25 mg subcutaneously twice weekly, with at least 72 to 96 hours between injections. For psoriasis, the dosage is 50 mg twice weekly for three months, followed by 50 mg once weekly. Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis are administered 0.8 mg/kg once a week, up to 50 mg.

Adverse Effects

Common Adverse Effects

  • Infection (viral, bacterial, and fungal – mostly upper respiratory tract infections)
  • Injection site reaction (erythema, itching, pain, swelling, bleeding, bruising)[1]

Rare Adverse Effects (in alphabetical order):

  • Blood and lymph disorders: aplastic anemia, leukopenia, myelodysplastic syndrome, neutropenia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia[9]
  • Cancers: lymphoma, skin cancers[10]
  • Cardiopulmonary problems: congestive heart failure, interstitial lung disease[11]
  • Gastrointestinal and liver problems: autoimmune hepatitis,[12] diarrhea,[13] elevated transaminases,[14] inflammatory bowel disease,[15] nausea[16] 
  • Immune and inflammatory conditions:  angioedema,[17] hypersensitivity reaction,[18] lupus-like syndrome,[11] non-neutralizing anti-Etanercept antibodies,[1] pyrexia,[16] sarcoidosis, uveitis, vasculitis
  • Infections: aspergillosis,[19] candidiasis,[19] coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcus,[19] herpes zoster, histoplasmosis,[19] legionella pneumonia,[20] listeriosis,[19] nocardiosis,[19] pneumocystis pneumonia, reactivation of Hepatitis B or TB,[21] salmonella infection,[19] septic arthritis 
  • Nervous system disorders: headache,[5] multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, paresthesias, seizures, transverse myelitis
  • Skin disorders: cutaneous lupus erythematosus,[22] erythema multiforme,[22] new or worsening psoriasis, rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome,[22] toxic epidermal necrolysis,[22] urticaria

US Boxed warnings

Infections, Including Tuberculosis

Patients using etanercept have an increased risk of acquiring serious and/or fatal infections, including the development of active tuberculosis or reactivation of latent tuberculosis. There are reports of various bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, including invasive fungal (aspergillosis, blastomycosis, candidiasis, coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and pneumocystosis) and opportunistic infections (legionellosis, listeriosis). 

Infections were more common in patients that received adjunct immunosuppressive medications, such as methotrexate or corticosteroids. Medical providers should exercise caution when prescribing etanercept to patients at higher risk for infections, including elderly patients, immunocompromised patients, patients with a history of recurrent/chronic/opportunistic infections, and patients exposed to tuberculosis or endemic mycoses. Physicians should consider empiric antifungal therapy for patients living in or traveling to endemic areas with an increased risk of invasive fungal infections.

Malignancies

Reports exist of malignancies in patients receiving etanercept, especially in children and adolescents. Lymphomas were most commonly reported, followed by melanoma and other skin cancers. Though the connection between etanercept and malignancies is not fully understood, clinical trials and case reports showed an increased rate of lymphoma and other malignancies in patients on etanercept compared to the general population. However, it is worth noting that rheumatoid arthritis alone has associations with increased rates of lymphoma and leukemia.[23]

Contraindications

Etanercept contraindications include patients with sepsis. Patients should not start etanercept during active bacterial infections, including tuberculosis (active or latent), active herpes zoster infection, active or chronic untreated Hepatitis B or C infection, or active invasive fungal infections.[24] Patients should not use etanercept if they have a hypersensitivity reaction to the medication ingredients.

Monitoring

Before starting etanercept, patients should receive screening for any infections, including latent tuberculosis or hepatitis B. Patients on etanercept require monitoring for signs of infection and reactivation or development of tuberculosis and hepatitis B.[25] If a severe infection or sepsis develops during etanercept treatment, discontinue treatment. Also, patients should be monitored for signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions, malignancy, or lupus-like syndrome. Patients with a history of heart failure also require monitoring during etanercept treatment.[26]

Toxicity

There have not been any dose-limiting toxicities observed during clinical trials, in vivo, and in vitro studies. However, the long-term toxicity of etanercept treatment is unknown.[27]

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Etanercept is one of several different options for treating plaque psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The medical providers should weigh the risks and benefits of selecting etanercept as a treatment, such as drug cost, effectiveness, method of administration, and adverse effects. Because it is a biologic, etanercept usage comes with serious side effects such as infections, malignancies, and autoimmune conditions.

An interprofessional team of clinicians, specialists, nurses, and pharmacists must work together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the patient. When deciding to treat with etanercept, clinicians should know the treatment guidelines, including monitoring the patient for signs of heart failure, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and other infections before and during treatment. Clinicians and nurses will instruct the patient or the patient’s relative on properly administering etanercept injections at home. Clinicians and pharmacists must ensure that the patient receives the proper medication and dosage and that the patient receives on drug interactions and adverse effects. Nursing can participate in injection administration training and education and should keep the team informed regarding the appearance of any adverse reactions, as well as monitoring the success/failure of therapy. Also, biosimilars of etanercept have been emerging on the market, so healthcare providers need to be kept abreast regarding the different options that they have for treatment.[28][29] Without proper management, the quality of life in patients with these diseases is low. An interprofessional healthcare team can help achieve the best possible outcomes with minimal adverse events. [Level 5]

References


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Lovell DJ, Giannini EH, Reiff A, Cawkwell GD, Silverman ED, Nocton JJ, Stein LD, Gedalia A, Ilowite NT, Wallace CA, Whitmore J, Finck BK. Etanercept in children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group. The New England journal of medicine. 2000 Mar 16:342(11):763-9     [PubMed PMID: 10717011]

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Feltelius N, Fored CM, Blomqvist P, Bertilsson L, Geborek P, Jacobsson LT, Lindblad S, Lysholm J, Rantapää-Dahlqvist S, Saxne T, Klareskog L, ARTIS Group. Results from a nationwide postmarketing cohort study of patients in Sweden treated with etanercept. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2005 Feb:64(2):246-52     [PubMed PMID: 15208177]


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Akhlaghi S, Sahebari M, Mahmoodi M, Yaseri M, Mansournia MA, Rafatpanah H, Zeraati H. Additional effect of etanercept or infliximab on the liver function tests of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort study. Therapeutics and clinical risk management. 2018:14():1943-1950. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S172836. Epub 2018 Oct 9     [PubMed PMID: 30349273]


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O'Toole A, Lucci M, Korzenik J. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Provoked by Etanercept: Report of 443 Possible Cases Combined from an IBD Referral Center and the FDA. Digestive diseases and sciences. 2016 Jun:61(6):1772-4. doi: 10.1007/s10620-015-4007-z. Epub 2016 Jan 4     [PubMed PMID: 26728477]

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Lovell DJ, Giannini EH, Reiff A, Jones OY, Schneider R, Olson JC, Stein LD, Gedalia A, Ilowite NT, Wallace CA, Lange M, Finck BK, Burge DJ, Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group. Long-term efficacy and safety of etanercept in children with polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: interim results from an ongoing multicenter, open-label, extended-treatment trial. Arthritis and rheumatism. 2003 Jan:48(1):218-26     [PubMed PMID: 12528122]


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Singh JA, Saag KG, Bridges SL Jr, Akl EA, Bannuru RR, Sullivan MC, Vaysbrot E, McNaughton C, Osani M, Shmerling RH, Curtis JR, Furst DE, Parks D, Kavanaugh A, O'Dell J, King C, Leong A, Matteson EL, Schousboe JT, Drevlow B, Ginsberg S, Grober J, St Clair EW, Tindall E, Miller AS, McAlindon T, American College of Rheumatology. 2015 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis care & research. 2016 Jan:68(1):1-25. doi: 10.1002/acr.22783. Epub 2015 Nov 6     [PubMed PMID: 26545825]


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Wang WM, Jin HZ. Biologics in the treatment of pustular psoriasis. Expert opinion on drug safety. 2020 Aug:19(8):969-980. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2020.1785427. Epub 2020 Jul 2     [PubMed PMID: 32615817]

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Bae SC, Kim J, Choe JY, Park W, Lee SH, Park YB, Shim SC, Lee SS, Sung YK, Choi CB, Lee SR, Park H, Ahn Y, HERA Study Investigators. A phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group trial comparing safety and efficacy of HD203, with innovator etanercept, in combination with methotrexate, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the HERA study. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2017 Jan:76(1):65-71. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-207613. Epub 2016 Feb 23     [PubMed PMID: 26905864]

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[29]

Matsuno H, Tomomitsu M, Hagino A, Shin S, Lee J, Song YW. Phase III, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group study to evaluate the similarities between LBEC0101 and etanercept reference product in terms of efficacy and safety in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis inadequately responding to methotrexate. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2018 Apr:77(4):488-494. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212172. Epub 2017 Dec 19     [PubMed PMID: 29259050]

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