Guselkumab for the Treatment of Psoriasis. 2018

Álvaro Machado, and Tiago Torres
Department of Dermatology, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, immune-mediated, inflammatory skin disease with systemic involvement and significant impact on patients' quality of life. Several biologic treatments have been developed in recent decades, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors, a non-selective interleukin (IL)-23 inhibitor (ustekinumab, which also inhibits IL-12), and-most recently-IL-17 inhibitors. Guselkumab is a novel biological therapy that selectively targets IL-23 and is the first-in-class selective IL-23 inhibitor approved to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. These inhibitors are expected to have some advantages over the highly effective IL-17 inhibitors, as they do not worsen inflammatory bowel disease and are not involved in the development of candida infections. Additionally, selective inhibition of IL-23 may have additional benefits over ustekinumab as the IL-12-dependent cascades remain functional. These benefits include a decrease in IL-17A-producing T cells in the skin and the promotion of an anti-inflammatory effect through production of interferon-γ and IL-10. In terms of efficacy, guselkumab showed promising results in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, although it did not show significant clinical improvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Studies in other inflammatory diseases and Crohn's disease are expected to begin soon. Overall, guselkumab was well tolerated; the most common adverse event was nasopharyngitis. Head-to-head studies comparing IL-23 inhibitors with agents in different classes, namely IL-17 inhibitors, will be crucial to establish the true role of these agents in psoriasis treatment.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011565 Psoriasis A common genetically determined, chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by rounded erythematous, dry, scaling patches. The lesions have a predilection for nails, scalp, genitalia, extensor surfaces, and the lumbosacral region. Accelerated epidermopoiesis is considered to be the fundamental pathologic feature in psoriasis. Palmoplantaris Pustulosis,Pustular Psoriasis of Palms and Soles,Pustulosis Palmaris et Plantaris,Pustulosis of Palms and Soles,Psoriases
D002986 Clinical Trials as Topic Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries. Clinical Trial as Topic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000911 Antibodies, Monoclonal Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells. Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
D015535 Arthritis, Psoriatic A type of inflammatory arthritis associated with PSORIASIS, often involving the axial joints and the peripheral terminal interphalangeal joints. It is characterized by the presence of HLA-B27-associated SPONDYLARTHROPATHY, and the absence of rheumatoid factor. Psoriasis Arthropathica,Psoriasis, Arthritic,Psoriatic Arthritis,Psoriatic Arthropathy,Arthritic Psoriasis,Arthropathies, Psoriatic,Arthropathy, Psoriatic,Psoriatic Arthropathies
D053759 Interleukin-23 A heterodimeric cytokine that plays a role in innate and adaptive immune responses. Interleukin-23 is comprised of a unique 19 kDa subunit and 40 kDa subunit that is shared with INTERLEUKIN-12. It is produced by DENDRITIC CELLS; MACROPHAGES and a variety of other immune cells IL-23,Interleukin 23
D053760 Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 A subunit of interleukin-23. It combines with INTERLEUKIN-12 SUBUNIT P40, which is shared between the two cytokines, to form in the active interleukin-23 cytokine. IL-23 p19,IL-23p19,Interleukin-23 alpha Subunit,Interleukin 23 Subunit p19,Interleukin 23 alpha Subunit,alpha Subunit, Interleukin-23
D061067 Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized Antibodies from non-human species whose protein sequences have been modified to make them nearly identical with human antibodies. If the constant region and part of the variable region are replaced, they are called humanized. If only the constant region is modified they are called chimeric. INN names for humanized antibodies end in -zumab. Antibodies, Humanized,Humanized Antibodies

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