If you’re living with plaque psoriasis, finding the right treatment can feel completely overwhelming. With new advancements in medicine, there’s now more hope for managing symptoms effectively. One such option is Sotyktu (deucravacitinib), a recently approved oral medication that offers promising results for those with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
What is Sotyktu – And How Does It Work?
Sotyktu, a daily pill, offers a holistic approach to treating psoriasis. Instead of being a surface-level solution like many topical remedies, this medication tackles inflammation within the entire body. Its mechanism is distinct from other systemic treatments, bypassing the need for injections prevalent with biologics and other oral solutions.
Dr. Jessica L. Garelik, a dermatology specialist at NYU Langone Health, who is not affiliated with the drug’s development, regards this approval as a positive development. She emphasizes the ongoing requirement for potent, safe, oral remedies for psoriasis sufferers needing a holistic approach.
Sotyktu Showed Positive Results in Majority of Participants
The FDA’s approval was influenced by findings from two key studies: POETYK PSO-1 (with 666 participants) and POETYK PSO-2 (with 1,020 participants).
These investigations juxtaposed deucravacitinib’s effects (administered as a 6mg daily dose) with placebo and apremilast (Otezla; a 30mg bi-daily pill) – the latter gained FDA approval the previous year for all severity levels of plaque psoriasis.
Effectiveness was gauged using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Physician’s Global Assessment (sPGA) score. A 75% reduction in the PASI score is considered a mark of efficacy by the FDA.
Key Takeaways From the Studies
- By the 16th week, over half of those on deucravacitinb (58% in PSO-1 and 53% in PSO-2) reported betterment, compared to 35% and 40% on apremilast, and nearly 12% on placebo.
- By week 24, between 59% and 69% of participants using deucravacitinib hit the desired PASI 75 target, as opposed to 37%-38% on apremilast.
- Of those achieving the target with deucravacitinib by week 24, an impressive 82% maintained their positive outcome at the year’s end.
Dr. Marisa Garshick, a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, noted the drug’s superiority to apremilast and placebo in terms of results by the 16th week and sustained effectiveness across two years.
She further highlighted deucravacitinib’s convenience as a single daily dosage, in contrast to apremilast’s twice-daily requirement.
Sotyktu’s Innovative Mechanism
Deucravacitinib is a pioneer as a TYK2 (allosteric tyrosine kinase 2) inhibitor. Dr. Garshick points out that it’s the inaugural drug of this category to gain approval for any condition.
TYK2 enzymes belong to the Janus kinase (JAK) family, responsible for cellular signaling linked to the immune response and resulting inflammatory protein production.
JAK inhibitors play a role in disrupting these signals, thereby decreasing inflammation. There has been scrutiny around JAK inhibitors due to potential side effects, including heart issues and blood clots.
However, deucravacitinib offers a safer profile by specifically targeting the TYK2 pathway. Notably, during the trials, Garshick mentions the absence of alarming side effects commonly associated with some JAK inhibitors.
Because of this, the FDA didn’t mandate a stringent black box warning for Sotyktu, a requirement for other JAK inhibitors.
Is Sotyktu the Right Choice?
If you suffer from psoriasis and haven’t been successful in finding an effective treatment option, Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) is worth researching.