While there’s no permanent cure for psoriasis, scientists are constantly developing new treatment options to help manage symptoms. Learn more about the latest FDA-approved treatments and those nearing approval.
Researchers have learned a lot more in recent years about psoriasis and the role the immune system plays in this condition. These new discoveries have led to safer, more targeted, and more effective psoriasis treatments.
If you’re looking to change treatments because your current one is no longer effective or you’re having side effects, it’s a good idea to learn as much as possible about the latest options.
The latest psoriasis treatments include:
Biologics are made from substances found in living things, such as proteins, sugars, or nucleic acids. Once in the body, these medications block a part of the immune system that contributes to your psoriasis symptoms. This interference helps ease inflammation.
New biologics that can help with psoriasis include:
Bimekizumab (Bimzelx)
Bimzelx was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
It’s available as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection in a prefilled pen. The dosage can differ for each person depending on their body weight. However, the typical dosage is 320 milligrams (mg), given as two separate 160-mg injections every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. It’s then taken once every 8 weeks.
The main side effects of Bimzelx are:
- fatigue
- acne
- stomach flu
- headache
- cold sores
Risankizumab-rzaa (Skyrizi)
Risankizumab-rzaa (Skyrizi) was approved by the FDA in April 2019.
It’s intended for people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy (light therapy) or systemic (body-wide) therapy.
Skyrizi works by blocking the action of the protein interleukin-23 (IL-23), which promotes inflammation in the body.
Each dose consists of two subcutaneous injections. The first two doses are spaced 4 weeks apart. The rest are given once every 3 months.
The main side effects of Skyrizi are:
- upper respiratory infections
- reactions at the injection site
- headache
- tiredness
- fungal infections
Topical treatments are ones you rub onto your skin. They are often the first treatments doctors recommend for psoriasis. Topical treatments work by reducing inflammation and slowing excess skin cell production.
New topical treatments for psoriasis include:
Roflumilast (Zoryve)
The FDA approved Zoryve in July 2022 for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
It’s a steroid-free cream that can help treat mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis. It can be applied anywhere on the skin, including skin folds.
The cream is applied once daily.
Side effects of Zoryve include:
- diarrhea
- pain at the application site
- headache
- upper respiratory tract infections
- trouble sleeping
Tapinarof (Vtama)
Vtama was approved by the FDA in May 2022 for the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe plaque psoriasis.
It works by slowing your body’s ability to produce new skin cells and reducing inflammation. Just like Zoryve, it is applied once daily.
During phase 3 trials, the drug showed
Side effects of Vtama include:
- flu symptoms
- headache
- itchiness
- nasal inflammation
- skin rash, burning, or stinging where the cream has been applied
Wynzora
The FDA approved Wynzora in July 2020 for the topical treatment of psoriasis.
The cream works to reduce itching and restore skin barrier function. Wynzora is used once daily.
Side effects of Wynzora include:
- skin thinning
- headache
- blurred vision
Biosimilars aren’t exact replicas of biologics. Instead, they’re reverse-engineered to produce similar results as biologics.
Like generic drugs, biosimilars are made once the original biologic goes off patent. The advantage of biosimilars is that they often cost a lot less than the original product.
The latest biosimilars for psoriasis include:
Biosimilars to adalimumab (Humira)
- adalimumab-adaz (Hyrimoz)
- adalimumab-adbm (Cyltezo)
- adalimumab-afzb (Abrilada)
Biosimilars to infliximab (Remicade)
- infliximab-abda (Renflexis)
- infliximab-axxq (Avsola)
- infliximab-dyyb (Inflectra)
The Remicade biosimilar Inflectra was the first psoriasis biosimilar to receive FDA approval, which was granted in
Avsola, Inflectra, and Renflexis, another Remicade biosimilar, are the only options currently available for purchase in the United States. This is primarily because the patents held by the biologics’ manufacturers have yet to expire.
Secukinumab (Cosentyx)
The FDA approved Cosentyx in June 2020 for the treatment of psoriasis in children ages 6 years and older. Cosentyx can be used for moderate to severe psoriasis.
If a child weighs under 110 pounds, the recommended dose of Cosentyx is
Side effects can include:
- cold-like symptoms
- diarrhea
- upper respiratory tract infections
Calcipotriene foam, 0.005% (Sorilux)
In 2019, the FDA expanded its approvals for calcipotriene foam, 0.005% (Sorilux), a form of vitamin D used to treat plaque psoriasis of the scalp and body.
In May, it received approval for use in children 12 to 17 years old. The following November, it was approved to treat plaque psoriasis of the scalp and body in children as young as 4 years old.
Sorilux helps slow abnormal skin cell growth in psoriasis. This foam is applied to affected areas of the skin twice per day for up to 8 weeks.
The most common side effects are redness and pain at the application site.
Many promising treatment options for psoriasis are currently in clinical trial stages. These include JAK inhibitors, a group of disease-modifying drugs that work by targeting pathways that help the body make more inflammatory proteins.
JAK inhibitors are currently used to treat:
- psoriatic arthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- ulcerative colitis
Several drugs are in phase 2 and phase 3 trials for moderate to severe psoriasis, including tofacitinib (Xeljanz), baricitinib (Olumiant), and abrocitinib. A topical JAK inhibitor is also under investigation.
So far, studies have found JAK inhibitors to be effective for psoriasis. They are thought to be about as safe as existing biologic drugs. One advantage is that they come in pill form and don’t have to be given as injections.
The studies performed so far have been short term. Additional research is needed to know whether JAK inhibitors continue to be effective over longer periods of time.
Staying informed about the newest options for treating psoriasis is crucial to managing your condition.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all therapy for psoriasis. You may have to try several different treatments before you find one that works best for you and doesn’t cause side effects.
New discoveries in psoriasis happen all the time. Make sure to talk with your doctor about new treatment options.