J&J reports 2-year ICOTYDE durability data in hard-to-treat psoriasis

What's the deal? Johnson & Johnson has reported two-year data for ICOTYDE( icotrokinra)its once-daily oral peptide for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis,the most common form of the skin condition,in which the immune system accelerates skin-cell turnover,causing scaly,sometimes painful patches. The late-breaking results,presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology(EADV)Congress 2026,showed high rates of complete skin clearancein difficult-to-treat body areas: 60% of patients with scalp psoriasis achieved completely clear scalp at Week 112,89%with genital psoriasis achieved completely clear genital skin,and 63%with psoriasis affecting the hands and/or feet achieved completely clear skin there. ICOTYDE works by blocking the IL-23 receptor,a key driver of the inflammation behind psoriasis.

Why it matters: ICOTYDE,approved by the FDA in March 2026,is the first oral peptide targeting the IL-23 pathway and is already positioned as a first-line systemic option for plaque psoriasis. These are among the first long-term efficacy data for the drug in the most challenging,highly visible sites,where patients often struggle with adherence or switch therapies. Proof of durable clearancein scalp,genital and hand/foot psoriasis could drive wider adoption of an oral option against a field still dominated by injectable biologics,strengthening J&J's position in the psoriasis market as it also pursues broader immunology indications.

Read more: Johnson & Johnson, 2 October ► 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ · PR Newswire, 2 October ► 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣