INTRODUCTION: The majority of Psoriatic Arthritis patients experience a good 
clinical response to anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α therapies. However, 
treatment failure with anti-TNF-α can represent a relevant clinical problem.
AREAS COVERED: We review the efficacy and safety profile of biological therapies 
that have been reported from randomized, controlled trials in phase II and phase 
III available in Pubmed Database for agents targeting IL-12/23p40 antibody 
(ustekinumab) and IL-17 (secukinumab), inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4, 
(apremilast), and of JAK/STAT pathways (tofacitinib) and CTLA4 co-stimulation 
(abatacept) in Psoriatic Arthritis.
EXPERT OPINION: In Psoriatic Arthritis, main emerging drugs are represented by 
the fully human monoclonal IL-12/23p40 antibody, ustekinumab, the agent 
targeting IL-17, secukinumab, and the inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4, 
apremilast. Results on T cell co-stimulation inhibition by abatacept are 
insufficient both in psoriasis and in PsA. In vitro investigations on JAK/STAT 
pathways in PsA suggest that tofacitinib could represent a further valuable 
therapeutic option. Emerging biological treatments other than anti-TNF agents, 
ustekinumab, secukinumab and apremilast appear promising for Psoriatic Arthritis 
and recent studies have showed a good efficacy and an acceptable safety profile; 
however, further and long-term studies are advocated.