Review: Targeted Therapies Transform Psoriasis and AD Treatment
Key Takeaways
Systemic treatments for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis have evolved from broad immunosuppression toward targeted biologics and oral small-molecule therapies.
IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors among the most effective psoriasis treatments, while JAK inhibitors and IL-4/IL-13-targeted therapies showed high efficacy in atopic dermatitis.
Pediatric treatment options continue to expand, but data are still limited.
A new review published in Thérapie examines the evolving systemic treatment landscape for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD), documented the expansion of targeted therapies for adults and children while identifying persistent gaps in comparative efficacy and long-term safety evidence.
Researchers Clarisse Marcombes and colleagues reviewed available and emerging systemic treatments, including their mechanisms of action, therapeutic positioning, efficacy, and safety considerations.
Biologics and Oral Therapies Expand Treatment Options
In psoriasis, the study noted treatment has expanded beyond conventional immunosuppressants such as methotrexate and ciclosporin to biologics targeting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-12/23, IL-17, IL-23, and IL-36. Oral phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) and tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitors have further diversified treatment options. For AD, therapies targeting IL-4/IL-13, IL-13, and IL-31 have broadened systemic treatment approaches. Oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors offer rapid control of skin inflammation and pruritus.
According to the review, network meta-analyses indicated high efficacy for IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors in psoriasis. JAK inhibitors and IL-4/IL-13-targeted therapies ranked among the most effective options for AD. The authors cautioned that differences in trial populations and methodologies, limited head-to-head comparisons, and insufficient long-term safety data complicate treatment comparisons. Targeted therapies have also become available for pediatric patients, though conventional systemics are still the most frequently prescribed treatments.
"The systemic treatment landscape of psoriasis and AD has shifted from non-specific immunosuppression toward targeted and increasingly personalized approaches," the authors wrote. "Future research should address long-term treatment strategies, rare adverse events, patient-reported outcomes, and clinical and biological factors that may guide individualized treatment selection."
Source
Marcombes C, et al. Therapie. Published online October 1, 2026. Doi:10.1016/j.therap.2026.09.045