SPRING HOUSE, PA — A new U.S. study from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reveals that most people living with psoriasis — and their healthcare providers — strongly prefer effective oral treatments over injectable therapies, underscoring a major shift in patient and provider expectations for long-term disease management.
The data, drawn from the ENCOMPASS study and presented at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, highlight a striking unmet need in psoriasis care. More than 90% of patients currently receiving injectable therapies said they would switch to a new oral treatment with equivalent efficacy and safety. In addition, 50.5% of adult patients and 47.5% of dermatology providers indicated they would prefer oral treatments over topical or injectable options.
“Psoriasis is much more than skin deep — among its far-reaching effects are a significant disease burden,” said Dr. Linda Stein Gold, Director of Dermatology Clinical Research at Henry Ford Health and study investigator. “We see it disrupt sleep and affect mental health, which has a profound impact on the quality of life of patients. This research shows the importance of addressing both the clinical aspects of psoriasis as well as the broader dimensions of daily life, and underscores that patients prefer oral treatments.”
The study analyzed feedback from 400 adults, 200 adolescents, and 200 dermatology providers across the United States to better understand treatment barriers, quality-of-life impacts, and decision-making patterns. Over 55% of adult patients reported a “very large” or “extremely large” quality-of-life impact, while that number climbed to 71% among adolescents aged 16–17 and 77% among those aged 12–15, according to the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
Patients cited skin symptoms, disease severity, lesion visibility, lack of effective treatments, and mental health challenges as the biggest contributors to daily burden.
Meredith Hans Moore, Vice President of Global Medical Affairs, Immunology at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, said the findings reinforce the company’s focus on patient-centered drug development. “Delivering on our commitment to understand the expectations of patients and healthcare providers involves actively seeking input, responding to feedback, and continually building a more patient-centered approach to care,” she said.
Psoriasis affects more than 8 million Americans and approximately 125 million people worldwide. With mounting data showing patient and provider demand for convenient, effective, and safe oral therapies, the results from ENCOMPASS suggest that the next evolution in psoriasis treatment may come in pill form — not a syringe.
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