OBJECTIVES: Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic, recurrent, immune-mediated disease often treated with biologic therapies. However, understanding of prescription initiation of biologics for psoriasis is limited. The current study evaluates patient and provider characteristics in treatment-naïve PsO patients prescribed either exclusively oral or biologic-containing regimens. METHODS: A retrospective database analysis was performed using Humedica electronic medical record data for adult patients with at least one diagnosis for PsO and no prior history of PsO or PsO-related therapy within 12 months prior to index date. Eligible patients were classified based on initial prescription as (1) oral only or (2) biologics (including oral and biologics as combination treatment). Patients’ demographic characteristics, comorbidities, disease status, prescriber specialty, and prescriber preference of biologics were compared for across both groups. Wilcoxon rank-sum and chi-squared tests were applied to variables of ordinal and nominal measure, respectively. Logistic regression was conducted to determine the variables associated with likelihood of initiation of a biologic treatment. RESULTS: A total of 2,373 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 1,166 (49%) were classified as obese, 856 (36%) were diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and 261 (11%) were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Male patients (OR=1.47) and patients with comorbid PsA (OR=1.51) were significantly more likely to be prescribed biologics compared to female patients and those without comorbid PsA, respectively. However, older patients (≥65 years) were significantly less likely (OR=0.47) to be prescribed biologic regimens than patients aged 18-44 years. Differences in prescribing patterns by race, BMI, comorbid RA, and provider specialty were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Male gender and comorbid PsA were associated with increased likelihood of initial biologic-based treatment for newly diagnosed PsO patients. Older age (≥65 years) was associated with a decreased likelihood of initial treatment with a biologic-containing regimen.