# Biological Treatment of Psoriasis—Data So Far

**Authors:** Mateusz Matwiejuk, Agnieszka Mikłosz, Hanna Myśliwiec, Adrian Chabowski, Iwona Flisiak

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/ph19020340 · Pharmaceuticals · 2026-02-21

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the effectiveness of biologic drugs in treating psoriasis, a chronic skin disease, based on clinical trial data.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive evaluation and comparison of currently approved biologic treatments for psoriasis.

## Key findings

- Biologic agents have improved treatment efficacy for moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
- Clinical trial data shows the key features of approved biologic drugs for psoriasis.
- Long-term drug therapy is essential to manage symptoms and improve quality of life in psoriasis patients.

## Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease occurring worldwide that significantly affects patients’ quality of life. This common skin condition is characterized by abnormal hyperplasia of keratinocytes, which leads to the formation of raised, scaly plaques, typically located on the head, elbows, knees, and lumbar region. Psoriasis usually requires long-term drug therapy, which aims not only to combat skin symptoms but also to improve quality of life. Although topical treatments, systemic treatments (methotrexate, cyclosporine, acitretin), and phototherapy play a role, biologic agents have improved the efficacy of treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The purpose of this article is to comprehensively review the clinical trial data and evaluate and compare the key features of the currently approved biologic drugs for the treatment of psoriasis.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** methotrexate (PubChem CID 4112), cyclosporine (PubChem CID 5284373), acitretin (PubChem CID 5284513)
- **Diseases:** psoriasis (MONDO:0005083)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** ATG5 (autophagy related 5) [NCBI Gene 9474] {aka APG5, APG5-LIKE, APG5L, ASP, SCAR25, hAPG5}, PDE4D (phosphodiesterase 4D) [NCBI Gene 5144] {aka ACRDYS2, DPDE3, HSPDE4D, PDE43, PDE4DN2, STRK1}, IL13 (interleukin 13) [NCBI Gene 3596] {aka IL-13, P600}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}, TNFRSF1B (TNF receptor superfamily member 1B) [NCBI Gene 7133] {aka CD120b, TBPII, TNF-R-II, TNF-R75, TNFBR, TNFR1B}, IL17F (interleukin 17F) [NCBI Gene 112744] {aka CANDF6, IL-17F, ML-1, ML1}, MIR146A (microRNA 146a) [NCBI Gene 406938] {aka MIRN146, MIRN146A, miR-146a, miRNA146A}, TNFRSF1A (TNF receptor superfamily member 1A) [NCBI Gene 7132] {aka CD120a, FPF, TBP1, TNF-R, TNF-R-I, TNF-R55}, FCGR2A (Fc gamma receptor IIa) [NCBI Gene 2212] {aka CD32, CD32A, CDw32, FCG2, FCGR2, FCGR2A1}, IL4 (interleukin 4) [NCBI Gene 3565] {aka BCGF-1, BCGF1, BSF-1, BSF1, IL-4}, LTA (lymphotoxin alpha) [NCBI Gene 4049] {aka LT, TNFB, TNFSF1, TNLG1E}, PDE4A (phosphodiesterase 4A) [NCBI Gene 5141] {aka DPDE2, PDE4, PDE46}, IL17RA (interleukin 17 receptor A) [NCBI Gene 23765] {aka CANDF5, CD217, CDw217, IL-17RA, IL17R, IMD51}, IL23R (interleukin 23 receptor) [NCBI Gene 149233] {aka PSORS7}, IL23A (interleukin 23 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 51561] {aka IL-23, IL-23A, IL23P19, P19, SGRF}, COL17A1 (collagen type XVII alpha 1 chain) [NCBI Gene 1308] {aka BA16H23.2, BP180, BPA-2, BPAG2, ERED, JEB4}, CRP (C-reactive protein) [NCBI Gene 1401] {aka PTX1}, IL37 (interleukin 37) [NCBI Gene 27178] {aka FIL1, FIL1(ZETA), FIL1Z, IL-1F7, IL-1H, IL-1H4}, IL17A (interleukin 17A) [NCBI Gene 3605] {aka CTLA-8, CTLA8, IL-17, IL-17A, IL17, ILA17}, IRF7 (interferon regulatory factor 7) [NCBI Gene 3665] {aka IMD39, IRF-7, IRF-7H, IRF7A, IRF7B, IRF7C}, IL17RC (interleukin 17 receptor C) [NCBI Gene 84818] {aka CANDF9, IL17-RL, IL17RL}, TNFAIP3 (TNF alpha induced protein 3) [NCBI Gene 7128] {aka A20, AIFBL1, AISBL, OTUD7C, TNFA1P2}, IL27 (interleukin 27) [NCBI Gene 246778] {aka IL-27, IL-27A, IL27A, IL27p28, IL30, p28}, IL25 (interleukin 25) [NCBI Gene 64806] {aka IL17E}, IL12B (interleukin 12B) [NCBI Gene 3593] {aka CLMF, CLMF2, IL-12B, IMD28, IMD29, NKSF}, IL12RB1 (interleukin 12 receptor subunit beta 1) [NCBI Gene 3594] {aka CD212, IL-12R-BETA1, IL12RB, IMD30}, IGHE (immunoglobulin heavy constant epsilon) [NCBI Gene 3497] {aka IgE}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, IL17C (interleukin 17C) [NCBI Gene 27189] {aka CX2, IL-17C}
- **Diseases:** candidiasis (MESH:D002177), ocular and gastrointestinal tract disturbances (MESH:D005770), hepatitis (MESH:D056486), nasopharyngitis (MESH:D009304), tuberculosis (MESH:D014376), oral candidiasis (MESH:D002180), hypertrichosis (MESH:D006983), renal impairment (MESH:D007674), IBD (MESH:D015212), depression (MESH:D003866), heart failure (MESH:D006333), ulcerative colitis (MESH:D003093), AA (MESH:D000506), infectious disease (MESH:D003141), axial involvement (MESH:C537791), hyperuricemia (MESH:D033461), HIV (MESH:D015658), epidermal hyperplasia (MESH:D006965), parakeratosis (MESH:D010241), erythema (MESH:D004890), death (MESH:D003643), eczema (MESH:D004485), arterial hypertension (MESH:D000081029), arthritis (MESH:D001168), blisters (MESH:D001768), enthesitis (MESH:D001171), psychological impairment (MESH:D000067073), toxicities (MESH:D064420), arthralgia (MESH:D018771), latent tuberculosis (MESH:D055985), cardiovascular disease (MESH:D002318), infections (MESH:D007239), Crohn's disease (MESH:D003424), colitis (MESH:D003092), COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), ischemic heart disease (MESH:D017202), gastrointestinal (MESH:D005767), uveitis (MESH:D014605), COPD (MESH:D029424), fatigue (MESH:D005221), ankylosing spondylitis (MESH:D013167), AIDS (MESH:D000163), SIB (MESH:D001072), itchy rash (MESH:D005076), skin cancer (MESH:D012878), eczematous rash (MESH:D017443), obesity (MESH:D009765), streptococcal throat infection (MESH:D013290), hair loss (MESH:D000505), autoimmune diseases (MESH:D001327), itch (MESH:D011537), squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (MESH:D002294), Kaposi sarcoma (MESH:D012514), Psoriatic arthritis (MESH:D015535), GPP (MESH:D011565), papulosquamous skin disease (MESH:D017444), dyslipidemia (MESH:D050171), skin pain (MESH:D010146), pustular skin lesions (MESH:D012871), fingernail (MESH:D044483)
- **Chemicals:** minocycline (MESH:D008911), lipid (MESH:D008055), Bimekizumab (MESH:C000625981), CZP (MESH:D000068582), steroid (MESH:D013256), Brodalumab (MESH:C571216), etretinate (MESH:D005050), lysophosphatidylcholine (MESH:D008244), arsenic (MESH:D001151), cetirizine (MESH:D017332), dupilumab (MESH:C582203), psoralens (MESH:D011564), Guselkumab (MESH:C000588857), cyclosporine (MESH:D016572), doravirine (MESH:C000592662), Nd:YAG (-), phosphatidylethanolamine (MESH:C483858), apremilast (MESH:C505730), Dithranol (MESH:D000875), phenylalanine (MESH:D010649), emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (MESH:C000613801), phosphatidylcholine (MESH:D010713), Ixekizumab (MESH:C549079), testosterone (MESH:D013739), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (MESH:C008301), arachidonic acid (MESH:D016718), dolutegravir (MESH:C562325), lamivudine (MESH:D019259), hydrocortisone butyrate (MESH:C007975), Adalimumab (MESH:D000068879), Methotrexate (MESH:D008727), Tildrakizumab (MESH:C000598434), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), lysophosphatidic acid (MESH:C032881), Secukinumab (MESH:C555450), rilpivirine (MESH:D000068696), Infliximab (MESH:D000069285), acitretin (MESH:D017255), glycerophospholipid (MESH:D020404), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (MESH:D000068698), Ustekinumab (MESH:D000069549), TC (MESH:D013667), salicylic acid (MESH:D020156), Risankizumab (MESH:C000601773), triglyceride (MESH:D014280), tofacitinib (MESH:C479163), beclomethasone (MESH:D001507)
- **Species:** Bacillota (clostridial firmicutes, phylum) [taxon 1239], gut metagenome (species) [taxon 749906], Human immunodeficiency virus (species) [taxon 12721], Bacteroidota (Bacteroides-Cytophaga-Flexibacter group, phylum) [taxon 976], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Lactococcus (lactic streptococci, genus) [taxon 1357], Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (no rank) [taxon 11676], Hydrogenophaga (genus) [taxon 47420]
- **Mutations:** rs1051738, (AUC) of 0, rs9373839, rs1801274, rs12191877, rs10484554, rs26528, rs610604, rs708567, rs2431697, rs72167053

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12944510/full.md

## References

120 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12944510/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12944510