Treatment options for psoriasis have expanded considerably, from conventional systemic therapies to biologic medicines, biosimilars and newer targeted treatments. However, the availability of an authorised medicine does not necessarily mean that every patient can access it.

In Central Europe, access to treatment depends not only on clinical evidence and regulatory approval, but also on national reimbursement decisions, eligibility criteria and the organisation of publicly funded treatment programmes. This article examines these factors through the example of adalimumab biosimilars, the newer treatment icotrokinra, and the role of national reimbursement systems, with a particular focus on Poland.

Biologic drugs and their development

Biologic drugs marked an important step forward in psoriasis treatment, particularly for people with moderate-to-severe disease who need systemic therapy. Earlier treatment options included drugs such as methotrexate and ciclosporin, as well as phototherapy. Biologics introduced a more targeted approach by acting on specific parts of the immune system involved in psoriasis-related inflammation.

The first biologic drugs used to treat psoriasis targeted tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a protein involved in inflammation. Etanercept (Enbrel) was approved for plaque psoriasis in the European Union in 2004, followed by infliximab (Remicade) in 2005 and adalimumab (Humira) in 2007.

The table below shows when these three established drugs first received EU marketing authorisation and when their indications were extended to include plaque psoriasis.

Sources: European Medicines Agency (EMA): Remicade EPAR, Enbrel EPAR and Humira EPAR. Historical psoriasis indication dates: “Indication approvals and marketing authorizations for anti-TNF drugs by EMA” — Table 1, ResearchGate.

New Treatment Approaches: The Example of Icotyde

Psoriasis research continues to expand treatment options. One recent development is Icotyde (icotrokinra), which received EU-wide marketing authorisation on 18 September 2026.

Unlike adalimumab, icotrokinra is an oral peptide that selectively binds to the interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R), inhibiting IL-23 signalling involved in psoriasis-related inflammation.

Its authorised indication covers moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kg and are candidates for systemic therapy.

According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), four main clinical studies involving approximately 2,500 patients evaluated Icotyde. In three studies, 50% to 57% of patients receiving the medicine achieved PASI 90 after 16 weeks, compared with 1% to 4% of patients receiving placebo. PASI 90 means at least a 90% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, a measure of disease severity and extent.

Biosimilars: Understanding Their Role in Psoriasis Treatment

Biosimilars are biological medicines highly similar to an already authorised reference biological medicine. European Medicines Agency (EMA) assessments require developers to demonstrate that there are no clinically meaningful differences between a biosimilar and its reference medicine in terms of quality, safety and efficacy. Because biological medicines are produced using living systems, they are more complex than conventional small-molecule medicines.

Yuflyma is a biosimilar of Humira. Both contain adalimumab, a biological medicine that blocks tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a protein involved in inflammation.

Humira’s main product-specific patent protection expired in most EU countries in October 2018, opening the way for adalimumab biosimilars to enter the European market. In the United States, biosimilar market entry was delayed until 2023 under patent settlement agreements. However, these dates do not represent the expiry of every patent associated with Humira, as additional patents covering specific formulations, dosing regimens or uses may apply in certain countries. Yuflyma later received EU marketing authorisation on 11 February 2021.

From a patient perspective, biosimilars may offer additional treatment options and can contribute to more affordable care where their prices and reimbursement arrangements support access. My own experience of psoriasis treatment in Poland has highlighted how strongly access can depend on the available treatment pathways and the conditions for publicly funded care. However, an individual experience cannot be generalised to all patients: the practical benefits of biosimilars depend on national reimbursement policies, clinical eligibility criteria and the alternatives available to each patient.

National Reimbursement and Access to Treatment

EU marketing authorisation and national reimbursement are separate matters. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) explains that pricing and reimbursement decisions are made at the national level. Consequently, EU-wide marketing authorisation does not guarantee the same reimbursement arrangements or access conditions across European countries.

In Poland, the Ministry of Health publishes reimbursement notices and documentation governing drug programmes. These programmes define patient eligibility and exclusion criteria, dosing schedules, methods of administration, and the diagnostic tests required for treatment and monitoring. According to the Ministry, patients accepted into drug programmes receive treatment free of charge, subject to the applicable programme rules.

Similar national systems determine access to publicly funded medicines in Slovakia, Czechia and Austria.

Yuflyma, an adalimumab biosimilar, is included in the national medicine reimbursement systems of Poland, Slovakia, Czechia and Austria. However, the specific reimbursement conditions and the extent to which coverage applies to psoriasis treatment vary by country. In Poland, Yuflyma is listed under the B.47 drug programme for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, subject to the programme’s eligibility criteria and treatment-monitoring requirements. As reimbursement lists and programme rules may change, the latest official national documentation should be consulted to confirm the conditions applicable to each medicine and patient group.

Icotyde, a newer treatment for plaque psoriasis, received EU marketing authorisation in September 2026. However, EU authorisation does not yet establish its national reimbursement status.

For any specific treatment, the latest national reimbursement lists and applicable programme documentation are the appropriate sources for verifying reimbursement status and patient access conditions.

World Psoriasis Day: Looking Beyond the Skin

World Psoriasis Day, observed annually on 29 October, raises awareness of psoriasis and its impact on people's lives. The 2026 campaign theme, “Look Beyond My Skin,” highlights the importance of recognising the person behind the condition, including the wider physical, emotional and social challenges that patients may experience. Access to appropriate treatment is an important part of this conversation. Advances in medicines can expand treatment options, but their potential benefits depend on whether patients can obtain appropriate care within their healthcare system.

Conclusion

Psoriasis treatment in Europe continues to evolve, with established biologic therapies and biosimilars alongside newer treatment options such as Icotyde. Regulatory authorisation and clinical evidence help establish approved uses and demonstrate treatment outcomes, while national reimbursement policies influence how patients can access publicly funded medicines.

Although reimbursement arrangements differ between Poland, Slovakia, Czechia and Austria, the objective remains to ensure that eligible patients can access appropriate, evidence-based treatment. We hope that continued advances in biologic therapies, together with appropriate reimbursement decisions and healthcare policies, will help make effective psoriasis treatments more accessible to people who need them across Europe.

Sources:

(1) European Medicines Agency (EMA). (n.d.). Yuflyma: EPAR – Public information on the medicine. European Medicines Agency. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/yuflyma

(2) European Medicines Agency (EMA). (n.d.). Icotyde: EPAR – Public information on the medicine. European Medicines Agency. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/icotyde

(3) European Medicines Agency (EMA). (n.d.). Frequently asked questions. European Medicines Agency. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/about-us/frequently-asked-questions

(4) Polish Ministry of Health. (n.d.). Programy lekowe [Drug programmes]. Gov.pl.
https://www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/programy-lekowe

(5) Polish Ministry of Health. (n.d.). Obwieszczenia Ministra Zdrowia – lista leków refundowanych [Ministry of Health announcements – list of reimbursed medicines]. Gov.pl.
https://www.gov.pl/web/zdrowie/obwieszczenia-ministra-zdrowia-lista-lekow-refundowanych (Reimbursement information checked on 28 October 2026)

(6) Slovak Ministry of Health. (n.d.). Kategorizácia a ceny [Categorisation and prices of medicines]. Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.
https://www.health.gov.sk/?kategorizacia-a-ceny
(Reimbursement information checked on 28 October 2026)

(7) State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL). (n.d.). List of reimbursed medicinal products. Government of the Czech Republic.
https://sukl.gov.cz/en/pharmaceutical-industry/medicines/regulation-of-prices-and-reimbursements-for-pharmaceuticals/list-of-reimbursed-medicinal-products/
(Reimbursement information checked on 28 October 2026)

(8) Austrian Federation of Social Insurances. (n.d.). Erstattungskodex (EKO) [Reimbursement Code].
https://www.sozialversicherung.gv.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.904626
(Reimbursement information checked on 28 October 2026)

(9) State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL). (2021, November 3). Souhrn k hodnoticí zprávě – Yuflyma [Summary of the assessment report – Yuflyma].
https://sukl.gov.cz/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SOUHRN_K_HODNOTICI_ZPRAVE_YUFLYMA_SUKLS227777_2021.pdf

(10) McLean, W., & colleagues. (2021). Adalimumab biosimilars: European patent expiry and market entry. [Review article on Humira patent expiry in Europe]. PubMed Central.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7839249/

(11) International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA). World Psoriasis Day 2026: “Look Beyond My Skin”. https://www.ifpa-pso.com/global-actions-overview/world-psoriasis-day

(12) Biological patent thickets and delayed access to biosimilars, an American problem. (2022). PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9439849/

The patient perspective in this article reflects individual experience and does not necessarily represent the experiences of all people living with psoriasis. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

As a partner in the IMPACTWHEEL project, ambiom s.r.o. supports effective transfer of theoretical concepts into real practice, with a specific focus and expertise in life science technologies.