Sustained Itch Reduction Observed at 1 Year of Icotrokinra in Psoriasis, With Linda Stein Gold, MD

One-year findings from a pair of pivotal phase 3 trials have been presented at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting reinforce icotrokinra's emerging profile as a high-efficacy oral option for adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and these data suggest the targeted oral peptide may offer certain advantages over deucravacitinib.1,2

In an interview with HCPLive at AAD, trial investigator Linda Stein Gold, MD, of Henry Ford Health, highlighted key results from ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 (NCT06143878) and ICONIC-ADVANCE 2 (NCT06220604) studies. These are 2 phase 3 analyses assessing icotrokinra not only against placebo but also in a direct head-to-head comparison with deucravacitinib, which Stein Gold noted was considered the benchmark for oral psoriasis drugs.

“We looked at these head to head, three different arms of the study, and then those patients who were on placebo were transitioned to oral [icotrokinra],” Stein Gold explained.

Adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were involved in 3 arms: once-daily oral icotrokinra 200 mg, placebo (transitioning to icotrokinra at the 16-week mark), and deucravacitinib 6 mg (transitioning to icotrokinra at Week 24). Stein Gold et al had tracked Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) responses through Week 52.

In her interview, Stein Gold described icotrokinra demonstration of a rapid onset of action, noting the sustained improvement maintained across the full 52-week observation period. The depth of response in skin clearance was also noted, as early in the studies, those on icotrokinra attained a clear level of skin at roughly double the rate of those on deucravacitinib.

When deucravacitinib-treated individuals crossed over to icotrokinra at the 24-week mark, these patients’ clearance rates similarly doubled, and those gains held through Week 52. Additionally, the drug’s safety profile was strong, with the adverse event (AE) rates with icotrokinra being comparable to placebo. Stein Gold and colleagues also found infection rates came in numerically lower than those observed with deucravacitinib.

The trials also enrolled adolescent patients alongside adults, and tolerability findings were noted as consistent across age cohorts. Overall, optimism regarding icotrokinra's study program’s continuation was expressed by Stein Gold.

Disclosures: Stein Gold reported serving as an investigator, advisor, or speaker for AbbVie, Amgen, Arctis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB.

References

1. ICOTYDE™ (icotrokinra) one-year results confirm lasting skin clearance and favorable safety profile in once‑daily pill for plaque psoriasis. Johnson & Johnson. March 28, 2026. https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/icotyde-icotrokinra-one-year-results-confirm-lasting-skin-clearance-and-favorable-safety-profile-in-once-daily-pill-for-plaque-psoriasis.

2. Campbell P. Icotrokinra, an Oral Il-23 Inhibitor, Receives FDA Approval for Psoriasis. HCPLive. March 18, 2026. Accessed March 28, 2026. https://www.hcplive.com/view/icotrokinra-receives-fda-approval-for-psoriasis.