You can also add to your health journal encourading news about advances in the psoriasis management. Here are some of them:
The first gene therapy for psoriasis has been developed
Scientists at the University of British Columbia (Canada) led by Professor Sarah Hendrich, in 2026 developed the first gene therapy to correct defective genes by directly applying the drug to human skin. During the treatment, the scientists first create microscopic holes in the upper layers of the skin using a laser and then insert lipid nanoparticles into them, which penetrate barriers and reach skin stem cells. Inside, the gene editor corrects the DNA mutation and activates normal cell function. Preclinical experiments showed that the new approach successfully corrected the most common genetic mutation causing autosomal recessive ichthyosis, a rare and life-threatening inherited skin disorder. A single topical treatment resulted in restoration of approximately 30% of the skin. The authors say these findings could lead to successful treatments for both severe hereditary diseases and simpler but more debilitating ones such as eczema and psoriasis.
Takeda unveiled impressive results for its psoriasis blockbuster
In 2022 Japanese pharmaceutical giant Takeda paid a whopping $4 billion to Nimbus Therapeutics for a promising psoriasis drug codenamed TAK-279. And it appears the money was well spent. Next year the company published results from Phase 2 clinical trials, which showed that 68% of participants experienced an average 75% reduction in symptoms and a third of patients experienced a complete resolution of symptoms. This exceeds the efficacy of the market leader, Bristol Myers Squibb's Sotyktu. Like Sotyktu, TAK-279 works by inhibiting the TYK2 protein, which initiates the inflammatory cascade response in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. The drug now faces Phase 3 clinical trials.
Bristol Myers' new psoriasis drug outperformed Otezla in clinical trials
American pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb in 2021 presented the results of phase 3 clinical trials of the psoriasis drug Deucravacitinib. The drug was tested in comparison with one of the best psoriasis treatments, Otezla (Amgen) and it outperformed this strong competitor. This is encouraging, because Otezla treatment costs approximately $22,000 per year. Deucravacitinib works by blocking the TYK2 enzyme, which is involved in the development of psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases. Given its novel mechanism of action and its very acceptable safety profile, deucravacitinib could easily generate billions of dollars for Bristol-Myers Squibb. And for those suffering immensely, it will offer a virtual cure.
Illuvinate - gadget for treating psoriasis at home
Doctors still haven't learned how to treat psoriasis (or eliminate its cause). In most cases, they prescribe medications that (temporarily) reduce skin inflammation, but they can also cause side effects. They might even send you to sunbathe on the Dead Sea. A new gadget, illuvinate, from the American startup Luma Therapeutics, offers another option. While it doesn't eliminate the cause of the disease, it does reduce inflammation without the side effects and expense of an expensive trip to Israel. The device works by using a narrow-spectrum ultraviolet light. It not only reduces inflammation but also restores cellular structure and normal hydration. The exposure mode can be set using a smartphone, as prescribed by a doctor. Lest you think this is just another Chinese toy, the device has received certification from the strict American regulator, the FDA.
Immune cell drug may treat psoriasis
Researchers from the University of Washington discovered in 2018 that itaconate, a substance produced by macrophage immune cells (if slightly modified), can reduce inflammation in psoriasis. They conducted trials on mice, administering the drug (as eye drops) for 7 days. As a result, psoriasis symptoms significantly decreased. According to the scientists, this treatment may help patients who do not respond to traditional anti-inflammatory ointments for psoriasis.