Apremilast in psoriatic arthritis
Schett, G.
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 33(5 Suppl 93: S98-100
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0392-856X PMID: 26472278 Document Number: 685585
Apremilast is a small molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 approved for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The efficacy and safety of apremilast in PsA have been demonstrated in four phase III trials. The compound has been approved for the treatment of moderate to severe PsA in the United States and in Europe. Apremilast also shows efficacy in psoriatic skin disease. Its mode of action is based on an increase of immune-regulatory cAMP in immune cells, which is mediated through the inhibition of the cAMP-degrading enzyme PDE4. Higher levels of cAMP inhibit cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, such as TNF-alpha or IL-23, resulting in clinical improvement.