Zasocitinib therapy highly efficacious for treatment of severe plaque psoriasis: JAMA

A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association revealed that Zasocitinib could be a breakthrough in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by red, scaly patches, affects millions throughout the globe. While several treatments exist, the demand for new, effective, and well-tolerated oral therapies remains high. Zasocitinib, a highly selective allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, emerges as a promising candidate to meet this need.

This trial was conducted between August 2021 and September 2022 across 55 centers in the US and Canada and found that Zasocitinib not only significantly improved skin clearance in patients but also expressed a favorable safety and tolerability profile. The study enrolled a total of 287 participants aged between 18 and 70 years, each with a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of 12 or greater, a Physician’s Global Assessment score of 3 or higher, and plaque psoriasis covering at least 10% of their body surface area. These criteria ensured that only patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were included. Out of the 287 patients randomized, 259 received at least one dose of the study treatment.

The participants were randomly assigned to one of 5 groups, receiving Zasocitinib at doses of 2 mg, 5 mg, 15 mg, or 30 mg, or a placebo, administered once daily for 12 weeks. The primary goal of the study was to assess the efficacy of the drug by measuring the proportion of patients achieving a 75% or greater improvement in PASI score (PASI 75) by week 12. Secondary endpoints included higher PASI responses (PASI 90 and PASI 100) and safety assessments.

By week 12, PASI 75 was achieved by 68% of patients receiving Zasocitinib at 15 mg and 67% at 30 mg when compared to just 6% of patients in the placebo group. Even at the lower doses of 2 mg and 5 mg, 18% and 44% of patients, respectively, reached PASI 75. These findings demonstrate that Zasocitinib offers a dose-dependent improvement in skin clearance. Further analysis showed that PASI 90 and PASI 100 responses which indicated even greater skin clearance and was consistent with the PASI 75 results. Also, 33% of patients receiving the highest dose of 30 mg achieved complete skin clearance (PASI 100). Overall, the trial suggests that Zasocitinib, particularly at doses of 5 mg or higher, is an effective and well-tolerated oral therapy for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Reference:

Armstrong, A. W., Gooderham, M., Lynde, C., Maari, C., Forman, S., Green, L., Laquer, V., Zhang, X., Franchimont, N., Gangolli, E. A., Blau, J., Zhao, Y., Zhang, W., Srivastava, B., Heap, G., & Papp, K. (2024). Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibition With Zasocitinib (TAK-279) in Psoriasis. In JAMA Dermatology. American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.2701