J&J’s IL-23-blocking oral peptide icotrokinra shows further promise

US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) has announced new data from the Phase III ICONIC-TOTAL study investigating icotrokinra (JNJ-2113), the first-in-class investigational targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the IL-23 receptor.

The study evaluated adults and adolescents aged 12 years of age and older with body surface area as low as 1%, and at least moderate plaque psoriasis (PsO) affecting high-impact skin sites. 

Some 66% of patients with scalp psoriasis and 77% with genital psoriasis treated with icotrokinra achieved site-specific clear or almost clear skin at week 16.