Emerging drugs for moderate-to-severe psoriasis

Current and emerging prospects in the psoriatic treatment

Psoriasis is an autoimmune chronic disorder that causes inflammation and a scaly epidermis. The exact pathogenesis of the disease is not known yet. According to the studies, psoriasis is considered an immune-mediated disease. Until now it is believed that genetic and environmental factors are responsible for the disease. There are many comorbidities associated with psoriasis which increases difficulties as patients in some cases get addicted to drugs, alcohol, and smoking which reduces their quality of life. The patient may face social ignorance or suicidal thoughts which may arise in the patient's mind. Due to the undefined trigger of the disease, the treatment is not fully established but by considering the severe impact of the disease researchers are focusing on novel approaches for successful treatment. which has succeeded to a large extent. Here we review pathogenesis, problems faced by psoriatic patients, the need for the development of new treatments over conventional therapies, and the history of psoriatic treatments. We thoroughly focus on emerging treatments like biologics, biosimilars, and small molecules which are now showing more efficacy and safety than conventional treatments. Also, this review article discusses novel approaches which are now in research such as drug repurposing, treatment by stimulation of the vagus nerve, regulation of microbiota, and autophagy for improving disease conditions.

Work-Related Lost Productivity and Its Economic Impact on Canadian Patients with Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

Background:

Psoriasis impacts many different areas of a patient's life, including work productivity. There is no information regarding lost productivity owing to psoriasis in a Canadian population.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the lost productivity of Canadian patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Methods:

Seventy-nine consecutive Canadian dermatology patients were interviewed and completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAIQ).

Results:

On average, 2.2 hours (± 5.6 hours) were lost from work per week owing to psoriasis-related events. Absence from work may result in lost mean patient wages of C$2,270.84 per person per year. Total lost wages owing to moderate to severe psoriasis may cost up to approximately $749 million for all moderate to severe psoriasis patients in Canada.

Conclusion:

The results from our study indicate that moderate to severe psoriasis may have a substantial impact on the work productivity of patients with this disease.

Emerging drugs for psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease characterised by abnormal keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation. The immunopathogenesis is complex and novel evidence shows the involvement of both innate and adaptive immune response. Type 1 T cells and their effector cytokines play a pivotal role. Several drugs under preclinical and clinical development for psoriasis are directed against the immune response, targeting activation or proliferation of T cells, their trafficking and skin-homing, or effector cytokines. Among these, great attention has been given to TNF-alpha, following the demonstration of effectiveness of anti-TNF-alpha biologicals, and to IFN-gamma inducers. Another appealing approach concerns drugs capable of inducing immunological tolerance. Progress made in the recognition of intracellular events has prompted the development of small molecules and oligonucleotides that can inhibit specific molecular targets. There is, however, a plethora of other emerging drugs, clearly suggestive of the current interest for psoriasis, which are briefly described in this paper.