[Future perspectives in the treatment of psoriasis: news in biological therapies].

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic, inflammatory disease. Due to the chronic nature of the disease, patients suffer from substantial psychological and financial burdens, thus adding to a significantly impaired quality of life. Current understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition has produced very encouraging new medical developments. The biologic therapies target precise elements of the immune cascade and their introduction to clinical practice was a significant advance in the management of refractory moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Biological therapies for the treatment of psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis are defined by their mode of action and are classified into the following categories: T-cell modulating agents, inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα blockers) and inhibitors of interleukin (IL) 12 and IL-23. This article reviews the recent progress in the understanding of the molecular and immunologic basis of psoriasis and how this contributed to the introduction of new targeted therapies. It is provided an overview of the TNFα inhibitors golimumab and certolizumab, and also other agents such as ustekinumab, briacinumab, tasocitinib, sipilizumab and abatacept.