Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) said that data from late-stage studies showed that its oral medication, icotrokinra, was more effective compared with Bristol Myers’ (BMY) deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
The studies found that icotrokinra not only met its primary goals against placebo at week 16, but also surpassed deucravacitinib’s efficacy at multiple assessed time points.
Icotrokinra produced greater improvement in skin symptoms at both weeks 16 and 24, while maintaining side effect rates comparable to placebo, the pharma giant mentioned.
The phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD study showed that icotrokinra provided sustained skin improvement and continued to be well tolerated after 52 weeks, across both adult and adolescent patients.
Johnson & Johnson said it has initiated the ICONIC-ASCEND study, the first phase 3 trial to directly compare, icotrokinra, against an injectable biologic, ustekinumab.