Discussing the Gaps in Treatment Satisfaction in Psoriasis

Patients with psoriasis continue to experience significant gaps between treatment eligibility and actual access to advanced therapies, despite expanded treatment options. Research reveals that many patients who qualify for systemic treatments remain under-treated, leading to suboptimal disease control and reduced quality of life. These gaps persist even as the dermatology field has developed increasingly effective therapeutic options for patients with moderate to severe disease.

Patients discontinue treatments for various practical reasons that health care providers must address proactively. Many patients find topical treatments cumbersome and prefer not to apply creams daily, viewing the routine as a constant reminder of their condition. Some patients develop needle phobia with biologic treatments, experiencing increasing anxiety as injection times approach. Others worry about long-term safety implications of injectable medications.

The oral medication space represents the greatest unmet need for patients seeking convenient, effective treatment options. Many patients express a preference for oral therapies when given comparable efficacy, safety, and tolerability profiles. Patient surveys consistently demonstrate strong preferences for oral medications, highlighting the importance of developing advanced oral treatments that can deliver biologic-level efficacy while maintaining the convenience and acceptability that patients desire for long-term adherence.