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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the oral medication icotrokinra for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older, according to a press release. An interleukin-23 receptor antagonist, the once‑daily medication is a uniquely targeted oral peptide for patients who weigh at least 40 kg and who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. New guidance from the International Psoriasis Council clarifies when clinicians might move beyond cycling through topical treatments for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and recommend systemic therapy for their patients. According to manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, in superiority studies, approximately 70% of patients achieved clear or almost clear skin in 16 weeks with icotrokinra. Clinicians can find prescribing information on the product website.
Following guidelines: International Psoriasis Council guidance suggests transitioning patients to systemic therapy if 2 cycles of topical medications applied for 4 weeks fail to bring meaningful improvement. Psoriasis affects more than 8 million Americans.