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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
For patients with psoriatic arthritis who've exhausted standard options, using two advanced therapies at once may be the answer. A real-world study found that dual targeted therapy improved joint pain, skin symptoms, and patient-reported outcomes — with mostly mild side effects. The findings support cautious, individualized use when single-drug approaches fall short.
When one drug isn't enough, could two do the trick? A real-world study out of two Toronto centers suggests yes — at least for patients with treatment-refractory psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Researchers tracked 39 adults who received two concurrent advanced therapies (biologics combined with JAK/TYK2 inhibitors or apremilast) for at least 60 days, finding meaningful improvements in joint and skin disease with a reassuring safety profile.
Among the 24 patients on a biologic plus a JAK or TYK2 inhibitor, tender joint counts, disease activity scores (DAPSA), and skin severity scores (PASI) all dropped notably over 6–12 months. Notably, these patients had already tried a median of five prior therapies before turning to dual treatment — underscoring just how hard-to-treat this group was.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: For rheumatologists managing patients who've failed multiple therapies, this study offers early real-world evidence that intentional dual targeted therapy is feasible and potentially effective — though the modest sample size and varied regimens call for larger, controlled studies before it becomes standard practice.
