Deucravacitinib Shows Improvement in Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis
Deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) also demonstrates improvements in signs and symptoms, extra-articular manifestations, and patient-reported outcomes.
Patients treated with deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) achieved at least a 20% improvement in signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, according to data from the phase 3 POETYK PsA-2 (NCT04908189) trial. The new data were presented as late breaking at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, from March 7 to 11, 2025.1
Deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) also demonstrates improvements in signs and symptoms, extra-articular manifestations, and patient-reported outcomes. | Image Credit: and.one | stock.adobe.com
“Given the complex, multifaceted, and heterogenous nature of psoriatic arthritis, there continues to be a significant need for safe and effective oral treatments,” Philip Mease, MD, director of rheumatology research at Swedish Medical Center/Providence St. Joseph Health, said in a news release.1 “These results are particularly encouraging because they support the potential for Sotyktu to impact both joint and skin symptoms, as well as patient-reported quality of life outcomes. Combined with a well-tolerated safety profile, these data show Sotyktu may serve as an important new treatment option for these patients.”
At week 16, investigators found that 54.2% of patients treated with deucravacitinib achieved at least a 20% improvement in signs and symptoms of disease compared with 39.4% with the placebo. For the secondary end points, the drug also demonstrated improvements in signs and symptoms, extra-articular manifestations, and patient-reported outcomes.
Investigators also reported that more patients who were treated with deucravacitinib achieved a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75 response compared with the placebo. There were also greater improvements in patient-reported Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index at –0.32 and –0.21, respectively.1
“These promising new data demonstrate the potential of Sotyktu as an oral therapy and the first TYK2 inhibitor that may be able to address significant unmet needs of patients living with psoriatic arthritis,” Edgar Charles, MD, vice president and senior global program lead of early and late development immunology at Bristol Myers Squibb, said in the news release.1
In a recent analysis presented at the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference — Hawaii in Big Island, Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, the safety profile of deucravacitinib remained consistent for 5 years, with no new safety signals for psoriasis. The clinical response rates were also maintained for up to 5 years, according to the data. For POETYK PsA-2, there were also no new safety signals, with adverse events (AEs) being reported for 62.8% of patients receiving deucravacitinib, 73.3% receiving apremilast, and 54.7% for the placebo. Serious AEs were reported in 1.9%, 3.8%, and 1%, respectively. Discontinuation due to AEs occurred in 2.2%, 10.5%, and 1.3%, respectively.1,2
Deucravacitinib has been approved to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and became the first SAK inhibitor that inhibited tyrosine kinase 2 selectively. The most common adverse events included respiratory complications, including upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, pharyngitis, and sinusitis. Other adverse events can include oral ulcers, stomatitis, and acne. It is administered orally once daily and is used off-label for overexpression of type I interferons, which include systemic sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus.3
READ MORE: Dermatology Resource Center
Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.
