Advances in Psoriasis Treatment

The treatment of psoriasis is changing, thanks to a growing understanding that it is a disease of systemic inflammation.1,2 In this regard, drug candidates targeting the interleukin-23 (IL-23) and type-17 helper (IL-23/Th17) T-cell pathway appear particularly promising, offering high rates of clearance or near-clearance of psoriatic lesions.3–5 Along with their role in treating psoriasis, ustekinumab (Stelara, Janssen) and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) inhibitors, in particular, are helping physicians target cardiovascular disease,6–8 one of the many known comorbidities of psoriasis. In the pathogenesis of psoriasis, the IL-23/Th17 pathway has been shown to be crucial in the immune system. Andrew Blauvelt, MD, MBA, president of the Oregon Medical Research Center, explained during a telephone interview with P&T: