Finding an effective treatment forpsoriatic disease(PD) often requires trial and error. Because people experience PD differently, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What’s more, as your disease progresses, you may need new medications or dosages to keep your symptoms under control.
There’s a wide variety of medications for treating PD, which is necessary, given that people who live with it experience a wide variety of symptoms. This article explains why PD sometimes can be challenging to manage, describes the medications approved to treat it, and previews those that are being researched.
PD DefinedPsoriatic disease is an umbrella term for two separate autoimmune diseases:Psoriasiscauses patches of scaly skin calledplaqueson various parts of the body.Psoriatic arthritis(PsA) causes inflammation in the joints.Some people have only one PD condition, some have both. Around 30% of people who psoriasis eventually develop PsA.
PD Defined
Psoriatic disease is an umbrella term for two separate autoimmune diseases:Psoriasiscauses patches of scaly skin calledplaqueson various parts of the body.Psoriatic arthritis(PsA) causes inflammation in the joints.Some people have only one PD condition, some have both. Around 30% of people who psoriasis eventually develop PsA.
Psoriatic disease is an umbrella term for two separate autoimmune diseases:
Some people have only one PD condition, some have both. Around 30% of people who psoriasis eventually develop PsA.
sanjeri / Getty Images
How PD Is Treated
Psoriasis and PsA are chronic diseases, and there’s no cure for either of them. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse. There are five broad categories of medications commonly used to treat PD.
Topical Medications
Topical medications, which are applied directly to the skin, are typically the first-line treatment for skin psoriasis.
There are many options:
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)decrease inflammation, joint swelling, and pain. They include over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin, for example) and aspirin, as well as prescription-strength NSAIDS known asCOX-2 inhibitors.
Corticosteroids
Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) primarily are used to treatrheumatoid arthritis. They’re sometimes prescribed for inflammation and pain when NSAIDs don’t work well enough.
The ones prescribed most often are:
Biologics
There are several categories of these drugs:
Acthar gel (repository corticotropin) is an injectable biologic that helps the body produce steroid hormones to regulate inflammation. It’s used for short periods of time as an add-on to other PD treatments.
Bimzelx Approved 2023
The drug is designed to selectively and potently neutralize both IL-7A and IL-17F, two proteins involved in the inflammatory process.
PD Drugs in Development
Medications are in the pipeline for treating PD. As with all medications, each must go through three phases of study before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will consider approving it:
Among the PD medications in development:
Netakimab (BCD-085)
BCD-085, or Patera, is a biologic and type ofmonoclonal antibodybeing tested for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. In phase I trials, researchers determined the safest dose for people with psoriatic disease. Inphase II, researchers found the majority of patients were meeting the American College of Rheumatology Criteria for improvement.
Piclidenoson (CF101)
As with several other psoriasis medications, Piclidenoson targets IL-17 and IL-23. A phase 3 trial to compare it to Otezla was completed in 2022. Piclidenoson compared favorably to Otezla.
Other JAK Inhibitors
There are several JAK inhibitors being investigated in phase II and phase III trials for moderate-to-severe psoriasis. They include the drugs tofacitinib and baricitinib.Topical formulations are also being developed.
Summary
A number of medications for treating psoriasis and PsA are in the works, including four that have reached the final phases of research.
Everyone who has PD experiences it differently. Some have mild symptoms that do not affect their quality of life, while others must face severe and debilitating symptoms every day.
If you have PD, work with your healthcare provider to find the best treatments for you. It may be frustrating if you’re having trouble landing on the medications that will relieve your symptoms, so keep in mind the future for treating PD is bright. Researchers are hopeful that one day PD can be cured, or at the very least, more people will be able to reach remission.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis: Diagnosis and treatment.Food and Drug Administration.Drug trials snapshots: Bimzelx.Papp KA, Beyska-Rizova S, Gantcheva ML, et al.Efficacy and safety of piclidenoson in plaque psoriasis: results from a randomized phase 3 clinical trial (COMFORT-1).J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024;38(6):1112-1120. doi:10.1111/jdv.19811Furtunescu AR, Georgescu SR, Tampa M, Matei C.Inhibition of the jak-stat pathway in the treatment of psoriasis: a review of the literature.IJMS. 2024;25(9):4681. doi:10.3390/ijms25094681Słuczanowska-Głąbowska S, Ziegler-Krawczyk A, Szumilas K, Pawlik A.Role of janus kinase inhibitors in therapy of psoriasis.JCM. 2021;10(19):4307. doi:10.3390/jcm10194307Additional ReadingBristol-Myers Squibb Press Release. Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Novel, Oral, Selective TYK2 Inhibitor Delivered Significant Skin Clearance in Patients with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis in Phase 2 Trial. Published September 12, 2018. https://news.bms.com/press-release/bristolmyers/bristol-myers-squibbs-novel-oral-selective-tyk2-inhibitor-delivered-signiChernyaeva E, Eremeeva A, Galustyan A, et al.FRI0010 Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerance of BCD-085, A Novel IL-17 Inhibitor, Based on The Results of Phase 1 Clinical Study in Healthy Volunteers. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2016;75:429. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-eular.1615.Gordon KB, Strober B, Lebwohl B, et al.Efficacy and safety of risankizumab in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (UltIMMa-1 and UltIMMa-2): results from two double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled and ustekinumab-controlled phase 3 trials. The Lancet. 2018, August 25, 392 10148); 650-661. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31713-6.Kaufman MB.Plaque Psoriasis Treatments: BMS-986165 Promising & Adalimumab Biosimilar Demonstrates Equivalence. Published October 22, 2018.Kiraly-Liebendorfer A.The latest generation of psoriatic disease treatment. National Psoriasis Foundation. Published December 4, 2018.Lampner C.Managing Psoriatic Arthritis: Updated 2018 Recommendations From ACR/NPF. Published December 13, 2018.National Psoriasis Foundation.Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs).PR Newswire.Bimekizumab Showed Sustained Improvements in Both Joint and Skin Outcomes for Psoriatic Arthritis Patients. Published October 24, 2018.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Clinical Study of Efficacy and Safety of BCD-085 (Monoclonal Anti-IL-17 Antibody) in Psoriatic Arthritis (PATERA). Updated December 10, 2018.Young MA.Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments. Updated November 19, 2015.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis: Diagnosis and treatment.Food and Drug Administration.Drug trials snapshots: Bimzelx.Papp KA, Beyska-Rizova S, Gantcheva ML, et al.Efficacy and safety of piclidenoson in plaque psoriasis: results from a randomized phase 3 clinical trial (COMFORT-1).J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024;38(6):1112-1120. doi:10.1111/jdv.19811Furtunescu AR, Georgescu SR, Tampa M, Matei C.Inhibition of the jak-stat pathway in the treatment of psoriasis: a review of the literature.IJMS. 2024;25(9):4681. doi:10.3390/ijms25094681Słuczanowska-Głąbowska S, Ziegler-Krawczyk A, Szumilas K, Pawlik A.Role of janus kinase inhibitors in therapy of psoriasis.JCM. 2021;10(19):4307. doi:10.3390/jcm10194307Additional ReadingBristol-Myers Squibb Press Release. Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Novel, Oral, Selective TYK2 Inhibitor Delivered Significant Skin Clearance in Patients with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis in Phase 2 Trial. Published September 12, 2018. https://news.bms.com/press-release/bristolmyers/bristol-myers-squibbs-novel-oral-selective-tyk2-inhibitor-delivered-signiChernyaeva E, Eremeeva A, Galustyan A, et al.FRI0010 Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerance of BCD-085, A Novel IL-17 Inhibitor, Based on The Results of Phase 1 Clinical Study in Healthy Volunteers. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2016;75:429. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-eular.1615.Gordon KB, Strober B, Lebwohl B, et al.Efficacy and safety of risankizumab in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (UltIMMa-1 and UltIMMa-2): results from two double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled and ustekinumab-controlled phase 3 trials. The Lancet. 2018, August 25, 392 10148); 650-661. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31713-6.Kaufman MB.Plaque Psoriasis Treatments: BMS-986165 Promising & Adalimumab Biosimilar Demonstrates Equivalence. Published October 22, 2018.Kiraly-Liebendorfer A.The latest generation of psoriatic disease treatment. National Psoriasis Foundation. Published December 4, 2018.Lampner C.Managing Psoriatic Arthritis: Updated 2018 Recommendations From ACR/NPF. Published December 13, 2018.National Psoriasis Foundation.Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs).PR Newswire.Bimekizumab Showed Sustained Improvements in Both Joint and Skin Outcomes for Psoriatic Arthritis Patients. Published October 24, 2018.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Clinical Study of Efficacy and Safety of BCD-085 (Monoclonal Anti-IL-17 Antibody) in Psoriatic Arthritis (PATERA). Updated December 10, 2018.Young MA.Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments. Updated November 19, 2015.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis: Diagnosis and treatment.Food and Drug Administration.Drug trials snapshots: Bimzelx.Papp KA, Beyska-Rizova S, Gantcheva ML, et al.Efficacy and safety of piclidenoson in plaque psoriasis: results from a randomized phase 3 clinical trial (COMFORT-1).J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024;38(6):1112-1120. doi:10.1111/jdv.19811Furtunescu AR, Georgescu SR, Tampa M, Matei C.Inhibition of the jak-stat pathway in the treatment of psoriasis: a review of the literature.IJMS. 2024;25(9):4681. doi:10.3390/ijms25094681Słuczanowska-Głąbowska S, Ziegler-Krawczyk A, Szumilas K, Pawlik A.Role of janus kinase inhibitors in therapy of psoriasis.JCM. 2021;10(19):4307. doi:10.3390/jcm10194307
American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis: Diagnosis and treatment.
Food and Drug Administration.Drug trials snapshots: Bimzelx.
Papp KA, Beyska-Rizova S, Gantcheva ML, et al.Efficacy and safety of piclidenoson in plaque psoriasis: results from a randomized phase 3 clinical trial (COMFORT-1).J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2024;38(6):1112-1120. doi:10.1111/jdv.19811
Furtunescu AR, Georgescu SR, Tampa M, Matei C.Inhibition of the jak-stat pathway in the treatment of psoriasis: a review of the literature.IJMS. 2024;25(9):4681. doi:10.3390/ijms25094681
Słuczanowska-Głąbowska S, Ziegler-Krawczyk A, Szumilas K, Pawlik A.Role of janus kinase inhibitors in therapy of psoriasis.JCM. 2021;10(19):4307. doi:10.3390/jcm10194307
Bristol-Myers Squibb Press Release. Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Novel, Oral, Selective TYK2 Inhibitor Delivered Significant Skin Clearance in Patients with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis in Phase 2 Trial. Published September 12, 2018. https://news.bms.com/press-release/bristolmyers/bristol-myers-squibbs-novel-oral-selective-tyk2-inhibitor-delivered-signiChernyaeva E, Eremeeva A, Galustyan A, et al.FRI0010 Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerance of BCD-085, A Novel IL-17 Inhibitor, Based on The Results of Phase 1 Clinical Study in Healthy Volunteers. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2016;75:429. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-eular.1615.Gordon KB, Strober B, Lebwohl B, et al.Efficacy and safety of risankizumab in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (UltIMMa-1 and UltIMMa-2): results from two double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled and ustekinumab-controlled phase 3 trials. The Lancet. 2018, August 25, 392 10148); 650-661. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31713-6.Kaufman MB.Plaque Psoriasis Treatments: BMS-986165 Promising & Adalimumab Biosimilar Demonstrates Equivalence. Published October 22, 2018.Kiraly-Liebendorfer A.The latest generation of psoriatic disease treatment. National Psoriasis Foundation. Published December 4, 2018.Lampner C.Managing Psoriatic Arthritis: Updated 2018 Recommendations From ACR/NPF. Published December 13, 2018.National Psoriasis Foundation.Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs).PR Newswire.Bimekizumab Showed Sustained Improvements in Both Joint and Skin Outcomes for Psoriatic Arthritis Patients. Published October 24, 2018.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Clinical Study of Efficacy and Safety of BCD-085 (Monoclonal Anti-IL-17 Antibody) in Psoriatic Arthritis (PATERA). Updated December 10, 2018.Young MA.Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments. Updated November 19, 2015.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Press Release. Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Novel, Oral, Selective TYK2 Inhibitor Delivered Significant Skin Clearance in Patients with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis in Phase 2 Trial. Published September 12, 2018. https://news.bms.com/press-release/bristolmyers/bristol-myers-squibbs-novel-oral-selective-tyk2-inhibitor-delivered-signi
Chernyaeva E, Eremeeva A, Galustyan A, et al.FRI0010 Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerance of BCD-085, A Novel IL-17 Inhibitor, Based on The Results of Phase 1 Clinical Study in Healthy Volunteers. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2016;75:429. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-eular.1615.
Gordon KB, Strober B, Lebwohl B, et al.Efficacy and safety of risankizumab in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (UltIMMa-1 and UltIMMa-2): results from two double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled and ustekinumab-controlled phase 3 trials. The Lancet. 2018, August 25, 392 10148); 650-661. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31713-6.
Kaufman MB.Plaque Psoriasis Treatments: BMS-986165 Promising & Adalimumab Biosimilar Demonstrates Equivalence. Published October 22, 2018.
Kiraly-Liebendorfer A.The latest generation of psoriatic disease treatment. National Psoriasis Foundation. Published December 4, 2018.
Lampner C.Managing Psoriatic Arthritis: Updated 2018 Recommendations From ACR/NPF. Published December 13, 2018.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs).
PR Newswire.Bimekizumab Showed Sustained Improvements in Both Joint and Skin Outcomes for Psoriatic Arthritis Patients. Published October 24, 2018.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Clinical Study of Efficacy and Safety of BCD-085 (Monoclonal Anti-IL-17 Antibody) in Psoriatic Arthritis (PATERA). Updated December 10, 2018.
Young MA.Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments. Updated November 19, 2015.
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