Recent Advances in Small Molecule and Biological Therapeutic Approaches in the Treatment of Psoriasis

New treatments continue to be developed for psoriasis. In this review, we aim to summarize the results of the major published studies on biologic and small molecule drugs for the treatment of psoriasis. We emphasize the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of these treatment options. A review of the MEDLINE database was conducted for each class of medication. Randomized controlled trials were identified for each medication; data on efficacy, safety, and tolerability were reviewed. Biologic and small molecule treatment options are more effective than placebo, although there were few head-to-head trials to assess relative efficacy between biologics and small molecule treatments. These drugs offer favorable safety profiles with only rare serious adverse events reported. Biologic and small molecule drugs offer diverse therapeutic regimens, particularly in patients with recalcitrant disease.