Open AccessApremilast in psoriasis and beyond: Big hopes on a small molecule
Author(s) -
T. P. Afra,
T Muhammed Razmi,
Sunil Dogra
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
indian dermatology online journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-5673
pISSN - 2229-5178
DOI - 10.4103/idoj.idoj_437_18
Subject(s) - apremilast , medicine , psoriasis , drug , psoriatic arthritis , thalidomide , dermatology , food and drug administration , pharmacology , intensive care medicine , multiple myeloma
Apremilast, an orally administered small molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), has been licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of active psoriatic arthritis (March 21, 2014) and moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (September 23, 2014). It has got approval from Drug Controller General of India for marketing in India in 2017. The drug has drawn much attention from the practising dermatologists for its commendable safety profile and prescription convenience. Introduced initially as an orally administered small molecule in psoriasis patients, the drug has now been used in various other indications as evident by the recent surge in literature for its off-label uses. Being a relatively new drug in the treatment armamentarium of psoriasis and other inflammatory dermatoses; in this review, we will discuss various practical aspects of prescribing oral apremilast, based on the current and emerging literature.