Risankizumab, Ustekinumab Linked to Lower Infection Risk in Psoriasis
Key Takeaways
- Biologics and small molecules used to treat psoriasis demonstrated a favorable overall safety profile, with infections reported in 5.33% of treatment cycles.
- Risankizumab and ustekinumab were associated with significantly lower overall infection risk compared with adalimumab (P < .002).
- Bimekizumab, brodalumab, secukinumab, and ixekizumab were associated with an increased risk of Candida infection.
Biologics and small molecules used in psoriasis therapies had a favorable safety profile, according to new research in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Study researchers included 4,820 patients (8,826 treatment cycles; 20,829 patient years of follow-up) in the analysis. They used data from the BIOBADADERM registry to analyze incidence rates of overall, serious, and special-interest infections linked with biologics/oral small molecules.
According to the data, the overall incidence of serious infection was low for all treatments (5.33%), with infliximab possessing the highest incidence rate. Pneumonia, COVID-19 pneumonia, and cellulitis were the most frequently reported infections. The authors also reported that respiratory infections were common, as well as COVID-19 and urinary tract infections.
Both risankizumab and ustekinumab were linked with a significantly lower risk for over all infections compared to adalimumab (P < 0.002). Bimekizumab, brodalumab, secukinumab, and ixekizumab were all linked with an elevated risk for Candida infection.
“Overall, our findings support the favorable safety profile of biologics and small molecules in psoriasis, particularly regarding serious infections,” the authors wrote in the abstract. The article is published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Source
Olivares-Guerrero M, et al. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2026. Doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2026.03.004