Current advancements in the treatment of psoriasis: Immunobiologic agents

Psoriasis is a chronic, T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder that affects up to 2.5% of the population worldwide and is accompanied by substantial physical and psychosocial distress. Recent progress in understanding the mechanisms behind the efficacy of conventional treatments has transformed psoriasis from a disease of keratinocyte hyperproliferation to that of T cell pathogenesis. Current treatment options for psoriasis are limited in efficacy and are associated with a number of problems such as inconvenience, organ toxicity, and broad-band immunosuppression. Hence, there has been a demand for new therapeutic approaches that are more convenient, effective, safe, and immunologically selective. Numerous biologic agents that modulate T cell and cytokine action at various steps along the pathogenic sequence have been developed and studied in clinical trials for the treatment of psoriasis. The current review will explore these novel immunomodulatory therapies.