Psoriasis affects about 8 million Americans, causing thick, scaly patches on skin and often painful joint inflammation. Treatment has shifted from creams and light therapy to targeted drugs that block specific immune pathways, with biologics now helping many people achieve clear or nearly clear skin for extended periods.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing next-generation IL-17 and IL-23 blockers that may work faster and last longer, oral JAK inhibitors and TYK2 blockers that offer pill alternatives to injections, and treatments specifically for nail psoriasis and scalp involvement. Research is also exploring whether early aggressive treatment can prevent psoriatic arthritis, which develops in about 30% of people with skin psoriasis.
IL-23 blockers
Drugs targeting IL-23 with fewer injections are showing sustained skin clearance lasting months between doses. Several are now approved, including risankizumab and guselkumab, with newer versions in testing.
Oral TYK2 inhibitors
Deucravacitinib, approved in 2022, blocks TYK2 and is taken as a daily pill instead of injections. Trials are testing whether this approach matches biologics for skin clearance while offering simpler dosing.
Early intervention
Studies are testing whether treating psoriasis aggressively early on can prevent joint damage. The goal is to stop psoriatic arthritis before it starts, not just treat skin symptoms.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on how much body surface area psoriasis covers, whether topical treatments have worked, prior biologic use, and presence of joint symptoms.
What types of trials are currently open
- Biologic trials — Testing new or improved injectable drugs that block specific immune proteins like IL-17, IL-23, or TNF. Many compare new drugs to existing biologics.
- Oral medication trials — Testing pills that work inside cells to block immune signals, offering an alternative to injections for moderate to severe psoriasis.
- Combination trials — Testing whether combining biologics with topical treatments or light therapy clears skin faster or more completely than single treatments.
- Arthritis prevention trials — Following people with psoriasis to see if early skin treatment prevents joint inflammation and damage.
- Registry studies — Long-term tracking of people on various psoriasis treatments to understand safety, durability, and what predicts response.
Recently added Psoriasis trials
Receive ear nerve stimulation to reduce arthritis pain and inflammation
This prospective single-center interventional study aims to investigate the effects of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on disease activity, pain, quality of life, autonomic dysfunction symptoms, and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Participants diagnosed with PsA according to the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) will undergo non-invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation using the Vagustim device. Clinical outcomes including the Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score based on C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), pain scores, sleep quality, quality of life, anxiety/depression, and inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) will be evaluated before and after treatment.
Share your psoriasis treatment progress with researchers over 6 months
This is a 24-week prospective, single-arm cohort, study of patients initiating advanced therapy for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque PSO. Eligible patients must be willing to be seen in-person by their treating physician for a Baseline visit (with first dose of the advanced therapy occurring within 14 days), and at 16 (+/- 5 days) and 24 weeks (+14 days) calculated based on date of first dose of the advanced therapy and must provide informed consent prior to enrolling in the study or completing study-specific questionnaires or procedures. Data will be collected from both subjects and their treating dermatology provider at predetermined scheduled intervals (Baseline, Week 16 and Week 24) using a structured and standardized data collection tool.
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