Roflumilast As a Positive Treatment Option for Psoriasis

"My colleague came up with a catch phrase that I am stealing for this session," explains Saakshi Khattri, MD, associate professor director, Center to Treat Connective Tissue Diseases, department of dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. "Apply Zoryve from face to feet."

This topical medication has been approved for use in patients with plaque psoriasis aged 12 years and older, and according to Khattri, the timing couldn't be better. "Patients are tired of steroids being thrown at them," observed Khattri. "This is a once a day treatment option that is greaseless, spreads easily and absorbs quickly, is easy to use, and could be applied on every part of the body." Khattri discussed up front possible adverse effects, which include diarrhea, headache, insomnia, nausea, and urinary tract infection, all which appeared in only 1% to 3% of participants

Topical therapies remain the foundation of plaque psoriasis: in a 2019 study, more than 90% of patients were treated with topical therapies, and because of the lapse in new topicals (some 20 years), Khattri observed, "it was time for innovation in topical therapy." The numbers bear this out: a recent patient survey showed that 81% of patients wanted more topical alternatives for their plaque psoriasis.

Additionally, because roflumilast can be used virtually anywhere on the body, it is a useful arsenal for treating this dermatologic condition: up to 64% of patients with plaque psoriasis will develop it in intertriginous areas at some point throughout the course of their disease.

Roflumilast, applied once daily, is a topical PDE4 inhibitor cream. The drug works by modulating key cytokines important across inflammatory dermatoses, including the key cytokines involved in plaque psoriasis. "This is a great treatment for patients, regardless of severity, who would benefit from topical therapy," said Khattri.

Reference

Khattri, S. Zoryve (roflumilast) 0.3% cream: a bold new take on treatment. Skin of Color Update meeting. New York Sheraton Times Square. New York, New York. September 10, 2022.