Guselkumab effective and safe treatment option for psoriasis patients, Study finds

A recent study reaffirmed the safety and effectiveness of guselkumab, in managing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis over an extended period of 208 weeks (approximately 4 years). This real-world study published in the Clinical and experimental dermatology fills an important gap in long-term data for this treatment, previously validated through randomized clinical trials.

The study involved 202 patients diagnosed with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, each receiving at least one dose of guselkumab. Researchers tracked the patients' progress, focusing on 3 key aspects which were drug survival (DS), clinical effectiveness, and safety. The effectiveness was evaluated using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), a standard measurement for assessing psoriasis severity and treatment response.

The patients experienced a marked improvement in their skin condition. The average PASI score dropped from 10.88 at the start of the treatment to an impressive 0.48 after 208 weeks, signifying substantial disease control.

At week 16, 30% of patients achieved PASI100 (Complete Skin Clearance), which increased to 64.71% by week 208. Similar trends were observed, with increasing numbers achieving this milestone over time in PASI90 (Near Total Skin Clearance). In the context of PASI ≤3 (Mild Disease), consistent improvements were seen, reflecting the sustained effectiveness of guselkumab.

At the end of the 208-week period, 68.5% of patients continued using guselkumab which indicated high long-term adherence and tolerability. Super responders (SRs) where patients achieving remarkable clinical improvement, were less likely to discontinue treatment, with cardiovascular comorbidities further reducing the risk of drug interruption. Also, none of the baseline characteristics of the patient population had a significant impact on effectiveness of guselkumab.

However, SRs showed better long-term responses, especially in achieving PASI100 and PASI90 scores. The study highlighted the favorable safety profile of guselkumab, with no unexpected adverse events reported during the extended treatment period. Overall, this real-world study provides strong evidence supporting guselkumab as a durable, effective, and safe treatment for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis over 4 years.

Reference:

Mastorino, L., Dapavo, P., Ortoncelli, M., Stroppiana, E., Verrone, A., Astrua, C., Fiasconaro, C., Liao, Y., Gallo, G., Quaglino, P., & Ribero, S. (2025). Drug survival, effectiveness, and safety of guselkumab for moderate-to-severe psoriasis for up to 4 years. Clinical and experimental dermatology, llaf010. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/ced/llaf010