The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved brodalumab (Siliq) for the treatment of adults and moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Brodalumab, which is administered as an injection, is a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IL-17 receptor type A — an important cytokine in psoriatic arthritis. Plaque psoriasis typically does not respond to topical medications used for psoriasis, but biologics, like brodalumab, have generally performed well in clinical trials.

Approximately 17 percent of all psoriasis patients will develop moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Psoriasis is increasingly becoming associated with the development of stroke, heart failure, obesity, hypertension and diabetes. But the severe form of psoriasis is in itself considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendency from physical and mental distress), wrote researchers in a review published in January 2017 in Skin Therapy Letter.

"By targeting IL-17RA, brodalumab has proven to be exceptionally efficacious with improvement of PASI 75 in over 80 percent, and approximately 70 percent of those patients achieved PASI 90 on brodalumab 210 mg by week 12 in three large phase three clinical trials,” wrote Stephen K. Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Texas, and colleagues in the review.

• Ixekizumab (Taltz). FDA-approved for plaque psoriasis 

• Ustekinumab (Stelara). FDA-approved for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

• Golimumab (Simponi). FDA-approved for psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

• Infliximab (Remicade). FDA-approved for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn's disease

• Adalimumab (Humira). FDA-approved for treating psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis

• Etanercept (Enbrel). FDA-approved for treating psoriasis in patients 4 years and older, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

• Secukinumab (Cosentyx). FDA-approved for treating plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis

• Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia). FDA-approved for psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn's disease.

Additional reading on Rheumatology Network:  “Induction Period for Switching Biologics in Psoriasis Recommended”