Dermatologists reported that biological therapies were more effective than immuno-suppressant medications in treating psoriasis.

According to Dr. Kabir Sardana, chief of the dermatology division at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, biologic drugs are safer to administer because they target just one specific cytokine cell that causes psoriasis rather than the patient′s entire immune system.

He further said that psoriasis is an auto-immune disease causing too much humiliation to patients due to its appearance. But currently, there are two to three expensive biological medications available in India that are highly safe and effective. Accordingly, these biological drugs are being used, depending on the patient′s financial condition. The medications are available at central government hospitals free of cost to those who are receiving benefits from some central government health programs.

Further, Dr. KK Verma, head of the dermatology department at AIIMS, said that the increase in psoriasis cases over the past few years is due to pollution. Due to climate changes and winter approaching, the city′s pollution levels are rising, causing more psoriasis patients in Delhi-NCR.

The experts stated that the primary benefit of biological medications is that they have no adverse effects. These are administered via injection, costing from Rs 7,000 to Rs 12,000. In the first month, a patient might require roughly four injections and then just one injection per month after which the patches drastically fade in around three months.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/biological-drugs-showing-better-results-in-treatment-of-psoriasis-say-doctors/95366838)