The contents of this monography on the current knowledge of etanercept in relationship with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is presented. Etanercept was first used in clinical studies in humans in 1992. Reference is made to the current indications approved by the European Medicines Agency. Its chemical structure is described, and the pharmacokinetics data and its mechanism of action are analyzed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Espaa, and AEDV. All rights reserved.