Psoriasis Drug Zasocitinib Outperformed Deucravacitinib
In a phase 3 trial, a new oral medication achieved higher rates of skin clearance for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Asthma
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The phase 3 LATITUDE Atlas trial found that zasocitinib surpassed deucravacitinib in achieving complete skin clearance in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. This oral treatment is currently under review by regulators for potential future use.
Why it matters
This development marks a potential shift in psoriasis management, as higher TYK2 selectivity may allow for more consistent symptom control while avoiding off-target effects. Patients may eventually have a more potent oral option for maintaining long-term skin clearance.
In the phase 3 LATITUDE Atlas trial, 36.5% of zasocitinib recipients achieved PASI 100 skin clearance at 16 weeks compared to 13.9% of those on deucravacitinib. While these findings demonstrate high efficacy, the long-term safety profile beyond the 52-week observation period remains under investigation.
The players
Takeda
A global pharmaceutical company focused on researching treatments for gastrointestinal, inflammatory, and rare diseases.
US Food and Drug Administration
The federal agency responsible for evaluating the safety and efficacy of new medical treatments before they reach the market.
European Medicines Agency
The regulatory body that oversees the scientific evaluation, supervision, and safety monitoring of medicines across the European Union.
The details
Zasocitinib works as a highly selective inhibitor of tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), an enzyme involved in the inflammatory signaling pathway. By maintaining IL-23 blockade for over 24 hours, the drug provides more sustained suppression of the immune signals that drive plaque formation compared to deucravacitinib. The drug's design prioritizes high selectivity to avoid unwanted metabolic or hematologic side effects, though the study identified nasopharyngitis and acne as potential adverse events.
Timeline
Week 8: Researchers observed initial signs of higher clearance rates with zasocitinib.
Week 16: The study reached its primary endpoint for PASI 100 assessment.
Week 24: Responders showed a high degree of sustained skin clearance.
Week 52: Data confirmed 93% of responders maintained skin clearance over the long term.
September 2026: Trial results were presented at the EADV Congress in Vienna.
Health Landscape
This study marks a significant progression within the LATITUDE clinical trial program, aiming to refine how clinicians treat chronic inflammatory skin conditions. It reflects a wider trend of developing highly selective oral inhibitors to replace or improve upon current systemic therapies.
For those currently managing moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, these findings suggest that more potent oral options are in development. It is worth discussing with your doctor how emerging TYK2 inhibitor research might influence future treatment conversations.
The takeaway
The study suggests that targeting TYK2 with high selectivity may lead to better outcomes for psoriasis patients. If you are exploring treatment options, consider asking your dermatologist about the ongoing pipeline of selective oral therapies and how they differ from current standard care.
Further reading
For broader context on managing chronic inflammatory conditions, visit Asthma.
More information
View the Takeda official clinical trial news release for additional details.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hcplive.
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