The biological agent alefacept [Amevive], given in combination with conventional therapies, produces significant improvements in plaque psoriasis, according to studies presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) [Washington DC, US; February 2004]. Initial results from an open-label study involving patients who had achieved stable disease with other treatments, including UVB light, ciclosporin, methotrexate and topical corticosteroids, indicate that further improvements are possible with the addition of alefacept. Importantly, combination therapy was well tolerated, and the incidences and types of adverse events were comparable to those reported in studies of alefacept alone. Another study presented at the meeting showed that treatment with alefacept for as many as nine courses was well tolerated and produced prolonged responses.