Psoriasis therapy is in a bit of a messy situation. Over half of the adults eligible for systemic treatment are left hanging, their needs unmet. Talk about frustrating! A staggering 55% of these patients report their quality of life being shredded, with a DLQI score of 11 or higher. And let’s not forget the teens—77% of adolescents aged 12-15 are feeling the same weight. These numbers scream urgency for better options.
Psoriasis treatment is falling short, leaving over half of adults and 77% of teens desperate for better solutions.
When it comes to treatment preferences, it’s clear: people want oral medications. About 50.5% of adult patients prefer popping a pill over receiving an injection, which is probably wise given that injectable treatments rank dead last.
Even those currently on injectables—91.2% of them—would jump at the chance to switch to a more convenient oral option. Convenience? Yes, please!
Healthcare providers seem to be on the same page, with nearly half preferring oral treatments. Only 22% are still clinging to injectables. It’s a clear trend: if efficacy and safety are equal, give them a pill!
Enter deucravacitinib, a new player on the scene. In pivotal trials, it delivered a 53-58% PASI-75 response by week 16, and even itching improvements popped up as early as week two. This aligns with the finding that 55% of adult psoriasis patients reported a very large impact on their quality of life, emphasizing the need for effective treatment options. Furthermore, around 3% of U.S. adults experience plaque psoriasis, highlighting the widespread need for better therapies.
Compare that to apremilast, which barely scraped by with a 33-35% PASI-75 response. Side effects? Apremilast users often wrestle with nausea and diarrhea, while deucravacitinib boasts a low rate of serious adverse events.
Let’s face it, the old assumptions about psoriasis treatments are being flipped upside down. With oral therapies showing such promise, the tide may finally be turning.
It’s time to challenge the norm and embrace what works best for patients. After all, they deserve better.
