New Drug Vastly Improves (And Even Cures) Psoriasis

A light micrograph of a sample of skin from a patient with psoriasis. (Photo: Getty Images)

If you know anyone with the autoimmune condition psoriasis, you know that it’s not easy to control and treat. However, the new drug Cosentyx, just approved by the FDA, may be a big step toward better treatment for those who suffer from this chronic issue.

Generally characterized by red, scaly patches on the skin, plaque psoriasis is the result of overactive T-cells. These white blood cells mistake healthy skin for ailing skin in need of some TLC, like a wound or cut, leading to flaking areas that can appear anywhere on the body. The condition can be triggered or worsened by anything from medications to sunburns to infections, and generally occurs in those with a family history.

Psoriasis can also be temperamental and difficult to keep in check, often requiring a combination of oral medications, phototherapy and topical treatments.

The newly-approved Cosentyx could help clear up psoriasis almost entirely, though, by injecting an antibody called secukinumab under the skin. That antibody binds to a protein that causes inflammation, interleukin (IL)-17A, stopping the inflammatory reaction that leads to the overproduction of skin cells in psoriasis.

The treatment was OK’d for those who currently use systemic medications, light therapy or a combination — however, talk to your healthcare provider about potential complications. Since Cosentyx is a treatment that goes directly into the bloodstream, it may leave some vulnerable to infection, like those with active Crohn’s Disease.

Related: How To Eat For Clear Skin

For now, it’s another potential option for those who might be in search of better control over their skin symptoms. “Plaque psoriasis can cause significant skin irritation and discomfort for patients, so it is important to have a variety of treatment options available to patients,” says Amy Egan, M.D., M.P.H., deputy director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, according to a press release.

And so far, results are promising. Cosentyx went through thorough testing to make sure it is safe and effective for plaque psoriasis sufferers. Four clinical trials of 2,403 participants showed Cosentyx provided significantly better symptom relief than a placebo, often clearing or nearly clearing the skin of patches in many cases.

According to Dr. Mark Lebwohl, MD, a professor of Dermatology and Chair of the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Cosentyx has the potential to help a lot of people control a tough condition.

“This drug is the first of the class of IL-17 inhibitors for psoriasis,” he says. “The results seen from these clinical trials are increasing the efficacy bar compared to the data seen with previous psoriasis medications. Not only did record numbers of patients achieve 75 percent improvement in a psoriasis severity score known as the PASI score, but large numbers of patients in the studies were 100 percent clear. This is the best data we have for any drug for long-term therapy of this chronic disease.”

You’ve got to like the sound of that.

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