Ustekinumab: A new option in psoriasis therapy

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a significant portion of the population. Aside from the well known cutaneous and joint involvements, psoriasis is associated with a host of systemic ailments and risk factors. Thus, psoriasis can diminish a patients quality and even length of life. Various systemic agents have been developed to control this condition, including the more recent introduction of biological agents. As the pathogenesis of psoriasis becomes better understood, a new class of biological drug is being studied and shows promise in long-term disease control for psoriasis patients, namely anti-interleukin-12interleukin-23p40 monoclonal antibodies. The new biological agent, ustekinumab, has been shown to improve moderate to severe psoriasis in patients who cannot tolerate other treatment modalities with ease or in whom these modalities have failed. A favourable side effect profile has also been shown for this agent.