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What are the new drugs for plaque psoriasis?

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 17, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

The newest systemic treatment for plaque psoriasis is the interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F antagonist bimekizumab (Bimzelx).

Bimzelx works by selectively and directly inhibiting both interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and interleukin-17F (IL-17F), two key cytokines that drive the inflammatory process in plaque psoriasis.

Another new treatment for plaque psoriasis is the tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor deucravacitinib (Sotyktu). TYK2 inhibitors work by inhibiting TYK2, an intracellular signaling kinase that mediates signaling of IL-23, IL-12 and Type I IFN, which are naturally occurring cytokines involved in inflammatory and immune responses.

Other new systemic treatments for plaque psoriasis are the interleukin-23 antagonists risankizumab (Skyrizi), tildrakizumab (Ilumya), and guselkumab (Tremfya). Interleukin-23 antagonists work by blocking interleukin-23 (IL-23), a pro-inflammatory cytokine thought to play a major role in chronic immune-mediated diseases, including plaque psoriasis.

Interleukin-23 antagonists are part of a wider group of drugs called biologics. Biologics are administered via subcutaneous injection or intravenous infusion and are reserved for moderate to severe cases of psoriasis. Other biologic drugs include tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) blockers, interleukin 12 and 23 (IL-12/23) antagonists, and interleukin 17 (IL-17) antagonists.

Systemic therapies, including biologic treatments, are only used for psoriasis that has not responded to other treatments (topical treatments and phototherapy).

The newest topical treatments for plaque psoriasis are the phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor roflumilast (Zoryve) and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulating agent tapinarof (Vtama).

New Drugs for Generalized Pustular Psoriasis

Spevigo (spesolimab-sbzo) is an interleukin-36 receptor antagonist approved in September 2022 specifically for the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis.

For more information on other psoriasis drugs, including topical treatments, see Medications for Psoriasis

New Treatments for Plaque Psoriasis - Latest FDA Approvals

Drug Administration Drug Class Patient Population FDA Approved for Psoriasis Psoriasis Indication
Bimzelx
(bimekizumab-bkzx)		 subcutaneous injection at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, then every 8 weeks interleukin-17A and interleukin-17F antagonist adults 17-Oct-2023

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Sotyktu
(deucravacitinib)		 oral tablets
once daily		 tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor adults 9-Sep-2022

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Zoryve
(roflumilast)		 topical application
once daily		 phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor adults and children 12 years and older 29-Jul-2022

mild-to-severe plaque
psoriasis
Vtama
(tapinarof)		 topical application
once daily		 aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulating agent adults 23-May-2022

mild-to-severe plaque
psoriasis
Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) subcutaneous injection at weeks 0, 4, then every 12 weeks interleukin-23 antagonist adults 23-Apr-2019

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker adults 24-May-2018

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Ilumya (tildrakizumab-asmn) subcutaneous injection at weeks 0, 4, then every 12 weeks interleukin-23 antagonist adults 20-Mar-2018

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Tremfya (guselkumab) subcutaneous injection at weeks 0, 4, then every 8 weeks interleukin-23 antagonist adults 13-Jul-2017

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Siliq (brodalumab) subcutaneous injection at weeks 0, 1, and 2, then every 2 weeks interleukin-17A antagonist adults 15-Feb-2017

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in patients who have failed to respond or have lost response to other systemic therapies
Taltz (ixekizumab) subcutaneous injection at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, then every 4 weeks interleukin-17A antagonist adults and children 6 years and older 22-Mar-2016

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Cosentyx (secukinumab) subcutaneous injection at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, then every 4 weeks interleukin-17A antagonist adults and children 6 years and older 21-Jan-2015

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Otezla (apremilast) oral tablets twice daily phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor adults and children 6 years and older 23-Sep-2014

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Stelara (ustekinumab) subcutaneous injection at weeks 0 and 4, then every
12 weeks		 interleukin-12 and -23 antagonist adults and children 6 years and older 25-Sep-2009

moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis
Humira (adalimumab) subcutaneous injection at weeks 0 and 1, then every 2 weeks tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker adults 18-Jan-2008

moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis when other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate
Remicade (infliximab) intravenous infusion at weeks 0, 2 and 6, then every 8 weeks tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker adults 26-Sep-2006

chronic severe plaque psoriasis when other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate
Enbrel (etanercept) Adults: subcutaneous injection twice weekly for 3 months then once weekly
Children: subcutaneous injection once weekly		 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker adults and children 4 years and older 30-Apr-2004

chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis

The biosimilars for the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers Humira, Remicade, and Enbrel and the interleukin-12 and -23 antagonist Stelara are also FDA approved for the treatment of plaque psoriasis:

Humira (adalimumab) Biosimilars

Remicade (infliximab) Biosimilars

Enbrel (etanercept) Biosimilars

Stelara (ustekinumab) Biosimilars

For more information, see Psoriasis: Treatment Options to Manage Your Symptoms & Skin

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