Burst Expert Illustrations & Commentaries™: The Impact of Targeted IL-17 Inhibition on the Treatment for Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Target Audience
This educational activity is directed toward dermatologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants involved in the care and treatment of patients with psoriasis.

Program Overview
Psoriasis is the most common immune-mediated inflammatory disease in North America and Europe, affecting approximately 8 million Americans and 125 million people worldwide. Psoriasis is a chronic, painful, disfiguring skin condition with no clearly defined cause and no cure. The critical pathogenic pathway in psoriasis is the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis. This process leads to keratinocyte hyperproliferation manifesting as characteristic scaly plaques. The implicated cytokines are also involved in the various comorbidities associated with psoriasis, including metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and psoriatic arthritis, which tend to be underrecognized. Biologic agents have been developed to target the cytokines or cytokine receptors involved to stop the inflammation associated with psoriasis. Current research is focused on the IL-17 inhibitors.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Identify the role of IL-23/IL-17 activation in the pathophysiology of psoriasis
Analyze the data regarding the efficacy and safety of disease-modifying therapies targeting the IL-17 pathway for the treatment of psoriasis
Integrate IL-17 inhibitors into personalized treatment strategies for patients with psoriasis