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.
Around 30% of people who psoriasis eventually develop PsA.
sanjeri / Getty Images
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.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroidsreduce severe inflammation in joints and tendons.
They’re given by mouth or injection, usually for short periods of time to treat flare-ups.
Healthcare providers don’t usually prescribe steroids often for this condition because plaques sometimes worsen after treatment is stopped.
They’re sometimes prescribed for inflammation and pain when NSAIDs don’t work well enough.
DMARDs also can help slowsometimes even stopongoing damage to joints and tissues brought on by PsA.
They work by preventing the immune system from overreacting.Biologicsare given by injection or infusion.
It’s used for short periods of time as an add-on to other PD treatments.
PD Drugs in Development
Medications are in the pipeline for treating PD.
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.
They include the drugs tofacitinib and baricitinib.Topical formulations are also being developed.
Everyone who has PD experiences it differently.
If you have PD, work with your healthcare provider to find the best treatments for you.
American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis: Diagnosis and treatment.
2021;10(19):4307. doi:10.3390/jcm10194307
Bristol-Myers Squibb Press Release.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2016;75:429.
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.
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.
Updated December 10, 2018.
Young MA.Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments.
Updated November 19, 2015.
