Progress with Emerging TYK2 Inhibitors for Psoriasis, With Benjamin Lockshin, MD

At the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, the HCPLive editorial team spoke in an interview with Benjamin Locksin, MD, regarding new tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitors for psoriasis.1

Lockshin, an assistant professor of dermatology at Georgetown University, had co-presented a session at the conference titled ‘Seminar-in-Depth: Encapsulating Progress With New and Emerging TYK2 Inhibitors for Psoriasis.’ The team asked him about his session and some of the most notable highlights for clinicians to be aware of on this topic.

“TYK2 inhibitors have really changed the landscape in terms of our management of patients with psoriasis,” Lockshin noted. “For moderate to severe patients that are looking for an oral option, I think TYK2 inhibitors like deucravacitinib have allowed us to have meaningful response rates for psoriasis vulgaris, as well as utilization and tough-to-treat areas like the scalp, palms, and soles.”

In one example, Lockshin highlighted the efficacy of the TYK2 inhibitor deucravacitinib, describing the medication as ideal for moderate disease.

“...I think that patients who are either younger or older may be good candidates [for deucravacitinib],” Locksin explained. “The younger patient that's in their late teens, or early twenties, with moderate to severe psoriasis may have no issue incorporating just one other pill into their routine. Many patients don't want the hassle of having an injection, especially if you're living in a group house or in a college dorm. You may not want that injectable in your fridge. Just having that pill keeps your disease state personal, so other people don't need to know what's going on.”

Lockshin also described the emerging TYK2 inhibitors for psoriasis as a complement to other available psoriasis treatment options, including biologics.

“I do think that biologic efficacy outperforms oral agents in general,” Lockshin said. “But certainly individual responses, especially in that moderate category, are very good in achieving high levels of clearance and its certainly possible with a medication like deucravacitinib.”

Lockshin described the present day as an exciting time in the psoriasis management space, both as a patient and as a clinician treating patients with psoriasis. He also touched on icotrokinra as a potentially strong option for patients.2

“These newer oral agents, including two new TYK2 inhibitors that can potentially add to increase levels of efficacy, as well as an IL-23 peptide like [icotrokinra], will allow patients more oral options to achieve higher levels of success,” Lockshin said. “I am specifically excited about the introduction of icotrokinra, as I think we'll be able to lean in on the safety from IL-23 biologics, but also have a once-daily option for managing patients.”

For any additional information on this subject, view the full video posted above. To learn more about news in dermatology, view our latest conference coverage here.

The quotes contained in this summary were edited for clarity.

Lockshin previously reported fees from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Regeneron, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Incyte, Leo Pharma, Pfizer, and UCB.

References

1. Lockshin B, Del Rosso J. Seminar-in-Depth: Encapsulating Progress 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. Bissonnette R, Soung J, Lebwohl M, et al. Icotrokinra, a Targeted Oral Peptide That Selectively Blocks the Interleukin-23-Receptor, for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Results Through Week 24 of the Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled ICONIC-LEAD Trial. Presented at DERM 2025 NP PA CME Conference; July 23-26, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada.