From the Psoriasis Foundation:
Highlights for Psoriatic Disease Research in 2013
Psoriatic Arthritis
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for two new psoriatic arthritis treatments – Stelara (ustekinumab) and Cimzia (certolizumab.)
- Several drugs are performing well in clinical trials, including:
- Celgene, which produces the oral drug apremilast, has asked the FDA to approve the drug as a treatment for psoriatic arthritis. At week 52, 63 percent of patients in the study on a 20-milligram dose saw a reduction in pain and stiffness. Learn more about apremilast »
- Brodalumab, ixekizumab and secukinumab, three biologic drugs that target a protein in the immune system called interleukin 17 or its receptor that is linked to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis inflammation, are performing well in trials.
- A study in the United Kingdom showed treating psoriatic arthritis more aggressively yielded better results.
- A large study of 34 dermatology clinics in Europe and North America showed that 10 percent of psoriasis patients had undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis. This is perhaps not a highlight, in the strictest sense of the word, but it is important.