Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects approximately 2-3% of the world’s population. The most common form of the
disease is plaque psoriasis, which is a result of dysregulated cell growth.
Conventional treatment options for psoriasis include topical corticosteroids, phototherapy, and systemic drugs (oral retinoids, cyclosporine, and
MTX), but all of these therapies have limitations.
Ustekinumab
is the latest biologic to be approved for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
It is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity and specificity to the p40 protein subunit used by both the interleukin-12
(IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23) cytokines. IL-12 and IL-23 are naturally
occurring cytokines that are involved in inflammatory and immune
responses, such as NK cell activation and CD4+ T-cell differentiation
and activation. In in vitro models, ustekinumab is shown to disrupt IL12- and IL-23-mediated signaling and cytokine cascades by disrupting the
interaction of these cytokines with a shared cell-surface receptor chain,
IL-12?1. Ustekinumab is indicated for the treatment of adult patients (18
years or older) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy.
Adverse events associated with the use of ustekinumab included nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, fatigue, and diarrhea.
