Purpose of review: To highlight the recently approved therapeutic agents in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), drugs in the pipeline, as well as to discuss efficacy with regard to different clinical domains of PsA.
Recent findings: More than 15 years ago, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) were the first biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) that were approved for the treatment of PsA. Since then, multiple new therapeutic agents inhibiting other targets have emerged including biologics targeting interleukin (IL) 12/23, and IL 17 and oral agents targeting phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) and Janus kinases (JAKs). Many new agents with various modes of action including selective inhibition of IL 23, therapies promoting activated T cell apoptosis, inhibition of tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), and more are under active assessment in ongoing clinical trials. Effective therapies for treating PsA have emerged over the last 15 years and newer agents continue to be discovered, allowing greater therapeutic options for controlling psoriatic disease activity and preventing joint damage and disability. Personalized therapy for patients with PsA is now a possibility.
Keywords: Biosimilar; Interleukin 12/23; Interleukin 17; Janus kinases; Phosphodiesterase 4; Psoriasis; Spondyloarthritis; TNF; Th-17; Tyrosine kinase 2.