RODRIGO SOUZA
Biocatalysis and Organic Synthesis Group, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazils

Plaque psoriasis is a common, chronic, immune-mediated disease characterized by scaly, erythematous, and pruritic well demarcated lesions that can be painful and disfiguring. The burden of psoriasis is reported to be like that of other chronic conditions, such as congestive cardiac failure and chronic lung disease, and includes significant physical, psychological, and socioeconomic burden. Tapinarof (Vtama - GSK) is a novel, first-in-class, small-molecule topical therapeutic aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-modulating agent (TAMA) recently approved by FDA (May 2022) for the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The compound was co-developed by Welichem Biotech and Stiefel Laboratories (subsidiary of GSK). However, Shenzhen Celestial Pharmaceuticals obtained rights to the product in the Greater China region (China, Taiwan, Macao and Hong Kong) in 2005. In 2012, Welichem licensed development and commercialization rights in all other regions to Stiefel. In 2013, Welichem entered int ... ...