Efficacy, Safety and Immunogenicity of BI 695501 Versus Humira® in Patients With Moderate to Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis

Inclusion criteria

• Males and females aged >=18 to = = 10% and
• Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score >= 12 and
• static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) score of >= 3.
• Participants of reproductive potential (childbearing potential ) must be willing and able to use highly effective methods of birth control per International Council for Harmonization (ICH) M3 (R2) that result in a low failure rate of less than 1% per year when used consistently and correctly during the trial and for 6 months following completion or discontinuation from the trial medication.
• Signed and dated written informed consent in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and local legislation prior to admission to the trial.
• Patients who are candidates for systemic therapy.

Exclusion criteria

• Active ongoing inflammatory diseases other than psoriasis that might confound trial evaluations according to investigator's judgment.
• Previous treatment with more than 1 biological agent, or adalimumab or adalimumab biosimilar. No prior biologic exposure within last 6 months of screening.
• Patients with a significant disease other than psoriasis and/or a significant uncontrolled disease (such as, but not limited to, nervous system, renal, hepatic, endocrine, hematological, autoimmune or gastrointestinal disorders).
• Major surgery performed within 12 weeks prior to randomization or planned within 6 months after screening, e.g., total hip replacement.
• Any documented active or suspected malignancy or history of malignancy within 5 years prior to screening, except appropriately treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of uterine cervix.
• Patients who must or wish to continue the intake of restricted medications or any drug considered likely to interfere with the safe conduct of the trial.
• Currently enrolled in another investigational device or drug study, or less than 30 days since ending another investigational device or drug study(s), or receiving other investigational treatment(s).
• Chronic alcohol or drug abuse
• Women who are pregnant, nursing, or who plan to become pregnant during the course of this study or within the period at least 6 months following completion or discontinuation from the trial.
• Forms of psoriasis (e.g., pustular, erythrodermic and guttate) other than chronic plaque psoriasis. Drug-induced psoriasis (i.e., new onset or current exacerbation from e.g., beta blockers or lithium).
• Primary or secondary immunodeficiency (history of, or currently active), including known history of HIV infection or a positive HIV test at screening (per the investigator discretion and where mandated by local authorities).
• Known chronic or relevant acute tuberculosis; no evidence of active tuberculosis.
• Known clinically significant coronary artery disease, significant cardiac arrhythmias, moderate to severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Classes III or IV) or interstitial lung disease observed on chest X-ray.
• History of a severe allergic reaction, anaphylactic reaction, or hypersensitivity to a previously used biological drug or its excipients.
• Positive serology for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV).
• Receipt of a live/attenuated vaccine within 12 weeks prior to the Screening Visit; patients who are expecting to receive any live/attenuated virus or bacterial vaccinations during the trial or up to 3 months after the last dose of trial drug.
• Any treatment (including biologic therapies) that, in the opinion of the investigator, may place the patient at unacceptable risk during the trial.
• Known active infection of any kind (excluding fungal infections of nail beds), any major episode of infection requiring hospitalization or treatment with intravenous (i.v.) anti infectives within 4 weeks of the Screening Visit
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) at Screening.
• Hemoglobin < 8.0 g/dL at S