**4. New targeted therapeutics in development for topical treatment of psoriasis**

Targeting a spectrum of inflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis will ensure a favorable safety profile and limited side effects. As discussed above, biological treatment, along with evolving systemic therapy, has revolutionized severe psoriasis management. Development of new and effective biologics has made much progress in our understanding of psoriasis immunopathology. Topical therapy implies good compliance for the psoriatic patients, few adverse systemic reactions as compared to systemic medications. However, biologics targeting proinflammatory cytokines are not suitable for topical route delivery due to the large size and poor permeability into skin. Small molecules targeting intracellular signaling pathway have some advantages over biologic agents, particularly the possibility of topical administration, lack of immunogenicity, the simplified synthesis processes, low-cost production, placing these drugs in a very attractive position for future drug discovery and development in topical treatment of psoriasis. New topical targeted therapeutics undergoing efficacy and safety studies are summarized in **Table 2** based on the information available from the website of ClinicalTrials.gov [72].
