title: Psoriasis drug discovery: methods for evaluation of potential drug candidates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is a complex disease with several clinical subtypes, as well as variations in body location and severity. Many patients suffering from psoriasis now benefit from the increased understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, which in turn drives translational efforts to test new therapeutic concepts in the clinic. However, a multitude of treatment options is currently needed to satisfy patient needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review describes the drug discovery platform in relation to psoriasis with special emphasis on how the major disease mechanisms of psoriasis can be studied in experimental in vitro and in vivo settings. The value of using humanized models and experimental clinical studies is highlighted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The successful development of novel therapies requires a translational approach to develop and implement the best preclinical and experimental clinical models and analytical tools that capture the various biological aspects of the disease. There is a need for more advanced in vitro skin models that contain the relevant cellular constituents as well as a need for careful validation of relevant in vivo models for psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biomedicine, LEO Pharma A/S, Ballerup, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Mads A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Røpke
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Norsgaard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents