SPRING HOUSE, PA — Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced new one-year data showing that its investigational oral drug icotrokinra continues to demonstrate high rates of durable skin clearance and a favorable safety profile in patients with plaque psoriasis, including those with difficult-to-treat scalp and genital involvement.
Results from the Phase 3 ICONIC-TOTAL study, presented at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, found that 72% of patients with scalp psoriasis and 85% with genital psoriasis achieved clear or almost clear skin by Week 52. Across all participants, 67% achieved clear or nearly clear skin and 44% reached complete clearance at the one-year mark.
Icotrokinra, a first-in-class targeted oral peptide that blocks the IL-23 receptor, is being developed as a once-daily pill for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and adolescents. The drug maintained its efficacy over 52 weeks, with safety results consistent with earlier findings and no new safety concerns reported.
“These durable response rates show that icotrokinra could represent a meaningful long-term option for patients struggling with psoriasis in sensitive or visible areas,” said Dr. Edward Lain, Executive Director of the Austin Institute for Clinical Research and a study investigator.
The ICONIC-TOTAL study forms part of Johnson & Johnson’s broader ICONIC clinical program, which also includes trials in psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. The therapy is being co-developed with Protagonist Therapeutics under a licensing agreement that grants Johnson & Johnson exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize the drug.
Plaque psoriasis affects roughly 8 million Americans and 125 million people globally. The chronic autoimmune disease often causes scaly, inflamed plaques that can severely impact quality of life, particularly when they appear on high-impact or sensitive areas such as the scalp, hands, feet, or genitals.
If approved, icotrokinra would become the first oral treatment targeting the IL-23 receptor pathway—a mechanism currently addressed only by injectable biologics—potentially marking a significant shift in psoriasis therapy options for both adults and adolescents.
Johnson & Johnson said it intends to continue advancing icotrokinra through its late-stage development program as it explores broader use across multiple inflammatory diseases.
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