A New Class of Topical Medications for Psoriasis May Be on the Horizon

A small-molecule JAK1/2 inhibitor shows promise.

Although good progress has been made in developing systemic agents for moderate to severe psoriasis, few new treatments have become available for mild disease. Promising results with a topical Janus-associated kinase 1/2 (JAK1/2) inhibitor may change the situation. Cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, key elements in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, rely on JAK 1/2 signal transduction proteins for their activity. INCB018424 is a small-molecule inhibitor of the JAK 1/2 pathway. Investigators evaluated this drug as a topical treatment in 29 patients with two similar lesions of limited plaque-type psoriasis.

For 28 days, INCB018424 was applied to one lesion, and to the other, calcipotriene 0.005% cream, betamethasone dipropionate 0.05…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)