Potential role of apremilast for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. (June 2014) - Souto, Alejandro
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints that occurs in patients with psoriasis. Nonbiologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate and leflunomide, and biologic DMARDs such as TNF antagonists and ustekinumab, have been used in the treatment of this disease. Apremilast is a novel therapy that inhibits phosphodiesterase 4 and increases intracellular cAMP levels. It modulates the expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators in favor of anti-inflammatory activity. One Phase II and four Phase III clinical trials showed significant clinical efficacy and a good safety profile of apremilast compared with placebo in patients with active psoriatic arthritis.