Psoriasis Drug Development

By Yolanda Smith, B.Pharm.Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc.

The involvement of the immune system and the rapid overproduction of skin cells are the primary factors that cause psoriasis symptoms. Therefore, most drugs for psoriasis currently in development are targeted towards these pathways to increase the efficacy of treatments while reducing the adverse effects.

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History of psoriasis treatments

Throughout history, the treatments used to manage the symptoms of psoriasis were discovered mainly through experimentation and noting the response of the skin lesions to these treatments. It was in this way that traditional psoriasis treatments, such as coal tar, were initially discovered.

However, advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis have revolutionized how drug discovery studies for the treatment of psoriasis are conducted. For this reason, the drug market for psoriasis treatments is rapidly expanding and is believed to double by 2023.

Medications targeting the action of T cells in the immune system and others that inhibit tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have already entered the market, along with several other similar drugs currently in development.

New drugs in 2015

At the beginning of 2015, both Cosentyx (secukinumab) and Otezla (apremilast) were approved to treat psoriasis.

Cosentyx is manufactured by Novartis and is the first interleukin-17 (IL-17) inhibitor to be approved, indicated for adults with moderate to severe psoriasis. This is a new biologic drug that is a suitable alternative for patients who are unresponsive to other treatments for the condition.

Otezle is manufactured by Celgene and is a selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, a new drug class that is thought to exist midway between traditional systemic drugs and biologic treatments. Otezle is expected to be helpful in treating severe cases to delay the progression to biological drugs.

Drugs currently in development

The market for pharmaceutical treatments for psoriasis is growing rapidly, with a significant number of new medications that are expected to apply for approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the next five years.

Medications for administration via injection that are currently in development include:

• Guselkumab
• ABP 501
• GP2017
• Tregalizumab
• Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)
• Cosentyx (secukinumab)
• Tildrakizumab
• Namilumab
• IMO-840
• BI 655066

Medications for oral administration that are currently in development include:

• XP23829
• KD025
• Alitretinoin
• ASP015K
• Apo805K1
• FP187
• LEO 22811
• Baricitinib
• VB-201
• CF101

Medications for topical application that are currently in development include:

• LAS41008
• Enstilar foam
• MOL 4239
• IDP-118
• AN2728
• CT 327
• LAS41004
• Taclonex
• LEO 90100
• PH-10
• WBI-1001
• Calcipotriene foam
• Tofacitinib
• M518101
• DFD-01

References

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23838833
• https://www.psoriasis.org/
• http://www.researchpartnership.com/news/2015/02/2015-a-good-year-for-psoriasis-drug-development/
• http://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/cannabis-chronic-skin-conditions/

Further Reading

• All Psoriasis Content
• What is Psoriasis?
• Psoriasis Types
• Psoriasis Treatment
• Psoriasis Topical Treatment