Biologic medications are specifically designed to mimic chemicals that are naturally found within the human body, and act to correct something that is going wrong. A well-known biologic treatment (that is not used for psoriasis) is Insulin, which is taken by diabetics.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidelines for when biologics can be prescribed. NICE recommends that Adalimumab (Humira, Amgevita, Hulio, Hyrimoz, Idacio and Imraldi), Etanercept (Enbrel and Benepali), Ustekinumab (Stelara, Uzpruvo, Wezenla, Steqeyma and Pyzchiva), Cosentyx (Secukinumab), Kyntheum (Brodalumab), Taltz (Ixekizumab), Tremfya (Guselkumab), Cimzia (Certolizumab Pegol), Skyrizi (Risankizumab), Bimzelx (Bimekizumab) and Ilumetri (Tildrakizumab) can be prescribed for people with severe psoriasis who have not responded to systemic treatments such as PUVA, methotrexate, ciclosporin and acitretin.
People can also be prescribed these biologics if the mentioned systemics cause side effects which means the person should not take them, or if the person has another condition or medication which means that they should not take the other systemic treatments. Infliximab (Remicade, Flixabi, Remsima, Zessly and Inflectra) can be offered for the treatment of very severe plaque psoriasis if the psoriasis has not responded to other systemic treatments such as PUVA, methotrexate or ciclosporin.
Click on the links below to find out more about the different types of biologics available to treat psoriasis.
Adalimumab (Humira, Amgevita, Hulio, Hyrimoz, Idacio and Imraldi)
Etanercept (Enbrel and Benepali)
Infliximab (Remicade, Flixabi, Remsima, Zessly and Inflectra)
Ustekinumab (Stelara, Uzpruvo, Wezenla and Pyzchiva)
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