In the yearly meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2023, the results of the phase 2b clinical trial of novel tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor were presented, demonstrating significantly greater skin clearance in study patients.

Armstrong AW, professor of dermatology and associate dean for clinical research at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, and his colleagues randomized 259 patients to receive 2, 5, 15, or 30 mg of TYK2 Inhibitor OD or placebo for 12 weeks. They found that the molecule demonstrated efficacy and safety in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, which confirms the clinical utility of selectively targeting [tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2)]. Armstrong said, "The efficacy at the highest doses is remarkable and points out that robust coverage of TYK2 could deliver meaningful improvement for patients."

In the treatment groups, 44% of the 5 mg cohort, 68% of the 15 mg group, and 67% of the 30 mg cohort achieved PASI 75, while only 6% of the placebo group achieved this.

Furthermore, 21%, 45%, and 46% of the treatment groups achieved PASI 90, and 10%, 15%, and 33% of the treatment groups, respectively, achieved PASI 100. These were surprisingly 0% in the placebo group.

Armstrong said, "Nearly 33% of patients achieved PASI 100 (clear skin) at week 12, which is numerically on par with biologics for psoriasis."

53% to 62% of subjects in the treatment groups, while 44% in the placebo group experience side effects.

Armstrong said, "The overall results support further testing in phase 3 and suggest that this newly formulated molecule can provide an efficacious, safe, oral treatment option for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis."

https://www.healio.com/news/dermatology/20230318/takedas-tyk2-inhibitor-shows-promising-phase-2-results-in-psoriasis