Psoriasis biologics were associated with less depression and anxiety, not only clearer skin

The edition in brief

A network meta-analysis of eight studies (4,319 adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis) found every biologic class was associated with short-term improvement in depressive and anxiety symptoms compared with placebo. IL-12/23 inhibitors had the largest estimate for depression (SMD 0.68, 95% CI 0.47-0.88), and IL-23 and IL-12/23 inhibitors similar estimates for anxiety (SMD 0.46). Rankings between drugs were uncertain, and mood improvement generally tracked, but was not proportional to, skin response. In a post hoc analysis of phase 3 lebrikizumab trials in atopic dermatitis, most week-16 responders kept head-and-neck EASI-75 to week 152 (94.8%), and 61% of patients with skin of colour reached a clear or almost clear face at week 24. In a 200-patient phase 2 trial in China, the oral JAK1/TYK2 inhibitor QY201 reached EASI-75 at week 12 in 73-85% across doses against 18.5% with placebo; adverse events were more common at the highest dose, and the drug is not approved.