Novel therapeutic targets in dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a systemic autoimmune disease with variable clinical presentations, including inflammation in the skin, muscle, lungs, and/or joints. Current therapeutic strategies in DM typically include broad immunosuppression; however, the currently used modalities are not universally effective and are associated with various side effects, including risk of infection. There is currently a highly unmet need for more effective and well-tolerated therapies. Recent years have witnessed increased interest in pharmaceutical development of new therapeutic strategies for DM. This review aims to summarize the landscape of therapies that are currently being tested or planned in patients with DM. These therapies have a wide variety of immunological targets, including T cells, B cells, inflammatory signaling pathways, type I interferons, autoantibodies, and other targets.