Discussing Zasocitinib and Other TYK2 Inhibitors for Psoriasis, With Ronald Vender, MD

Ronald Vender, MD, an associate clinical professor at McMaster University’s Department of Medicine, spoke with HCPLive at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, regarding the treatment landscape with tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitors for psoriasis.1

Vender’s session, ‘Setting Sights Higher With New and Emerging TYK2 Inhibitors for Psoriasis,’ highlighted news and strategies related to a variety of TYK2 inhibitor medications for psoriatic disease. In Vender’s interview, he spoke about some of these highlights.

“We have an exciting future for treating psoriasis,” Vender said. “We have sort of a transformation from injectable to ingestible. The safest category seems to be this TYK2 inhibitor, which is part of the JAK family. But it's the distant cousin because of the adverse events are very different. The only TYK2 inhibitor that's approved presently is deucravacitinib. The other 2 that are under investigation in phase 2 and 3 studies is zasocitinib from Takeda, used to be called TAK-279…But the interesting thing is we're seeing great efficacy from this TYK2 inhibitor that is mimicking a biologic, for example.”

Vender described zasocitinib as similar to ustekinumab in terms of efficacy in treating patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. He further described deucravacitinib and zasocitinib as TYK2 inhibitors providng a potential oral option for patients who may be needle-phobic.

“Now, coming up, the pipeline is also this [ORKA-001] molecule, which is an extended half life, a changing the FC portion of the monoclonal antibody,” Vender said. “They have looked at risankizumab specifically. And this study is still ongoing. However, in theory, patients should be able to inject once or twice per year because of the long half life. They also have another product that is an anti-IL-17 with an extended half life. That is something that may be considered in the near future as well.”

Later, Vender discussed his session at Fall Clinical on the diagnosis and treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis.2

“Palmoplantar pustulosis is a very difficult condition to treat,” Vender responded. “There's nothing that really works. It is part of the psoriasis family, but it's a bit more difficult. Part of the reason with palmoplantar is the kebnerization. Also, the pustulation, instead of thickness, where you still have scaling and you still have redness…It’s hard to penetrate those skin barriers in the palms and soles.”

Vender noted many biologics had been attempted to attempt treatment of palmoplantar pustulosis. Bimekizumab, for example, is beginning a subcutaneous trial for treating palmoplantar pustulosis specifically.

“We have had success with apremilast,” Vender said. “This is a PDE4 inhibitor that has had great success due to its safety and due to its efficacy in quite a number of patients. Although for moderate to severe psoriasis, it may be lower down on the treatment choice, for palmoplantar pustulosis, it would be my first choice to treat these patients. [This is] because I have seen great efficacy in my practice, and also in some clinical trials that have shown great efficacy for these patients as well.”

For any other information on psoriasis and palmoplantar pustulosis, view the full video above. To find out more about new data in dermatology, view the latest conference coverage.

The quotes used in this video summary were edited for clarity.

References

1. Vender R, Strober B, Armstrong A. CME Satellite Symposium: Setting Sights Higher With New and Emerging TYK2 Inhibitors for Psoriasis. Session presentation at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct 23-26, 2025.

2. Lebwohl M, Vender R. Seminar-in-Depth: Time is of the Essence: Diagnosing and Treating Palmoplantar Pustulosis. Session presentation at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct 23-26, 2025.