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The treatment armamentarium for psoriasis is likely to be expanded soon by the approval of ustekinumab, a human monoclonal antibody directed against the p40 subunit of interleukins 12 and 23. These interleukins have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and ustekinumab prevents their interaction with the cell-surface interleukin-12Rβ receptor.
Results from two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of this agent demonstrated that many patients achieved at least 75% improvement in their PASI scores by week 12. Patients received 45 mg or 90 mg subcutaneously at baseline and week 4 and then every 12 weeks. At the first follow-up, 66% to 76% of patients had PASI 75 responses, with sustained response during the 3 months between injections. Th…