Emerging Treatment Regimens in Psoriasis: Are There Advantages Over Current Biologic Therapies?

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that impacts patients’ quality of life and has large economic consequences. While current biologics are remarkable for their efficacy and safety, opportunities for improvement exist due to their rare side effects, fading efficacy, method of delivery, and expense. Biologics such as bimekizumab offer high likelihood of clearance, while oral options (e.g., deucravacitinib) allow patients to avoid injections and achieve efficacies similar to adalimumab or ustekinumab. As a result, there is limited room for the development of new biologics. Several oral therapies such as the oral monoclonal microbial EDP1815 have the potential to meet patient expectations for efficacy and convenient administration. However, emerging treatment regimens for plaque psoriasis will increasingly require a multimodal approach, addressing patient adherence, lifestyle choices, and awareness of the individual’s underlying pathophysiological processes. In this narrative review, the authors discuss recent advances in the development of biologic and oral small molecules for plaque psoriasis.