Spring House, Pennsylvania, USA, October 9, 2026
Johnson & Johnson has announced new two-year clinical results for ICOTYDE® (icotrokinra), demonstrating sustained skin clearance and a consistent safety profile in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The findings come from the Phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD study and were presented at the 2026 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference. ICOTYDE is a targeted oral peptide that blocks the interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R), a key component of the inflammatory pathway involved in psoriasis. The latest results provide additional evidence about the durability of treatment responses through Week 112, extending the clinical observations beyond the initial treatment period. At least 72% of treated patients achieved 90% improvement in psoriasis severity, while at least 70% achieved clear or almost clear skin during the reported period from Week 64 through Week 112. The company also reported sustained improvements in itching and the ability to regain treatment responses following retreatment. These findings highlight the potential value of long-term disease management for people living with chronic plaque psoriasis.
ICOTYDE Demonstrates Sustained Skin Clearance
The Phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD study evaluated the efficacy and safety of icotrokinra in 684 participants aged 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Participants were assigned to receive ICOTYDE or placebo, and the trial assessed clinical responses using established psoriasis severity measures. At Week 112, at least 72% of ICOTYDE-treated patients achieved PASI 90, representing a 90% improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index from baseline. At least 70% achieved an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 0 or 1, indicating clear or almost clear skin. Complete skin clearance was also maintained, with at least 44% of treated participants achieving PASI 100 and at least 46% reaching an IGA score of 0 between Weeks 64 and 112. These results suggest that many patients maintained substantial improvements over approximately two years of treatment. The study also included adolescents, extending the evidence base across adult and younger patient populations. The sustained responses are particularly relevant for a chronic inflammatory disease that often requires long-term treatment, although individual outcomes can vary.
Itch Relief and Retreatment Results Support Long-Term Management
Beyond improvements in skin appearance, the study evaluated patient-reported symptoms and the durability of responses after treatment interruption. Clinically meaningful improvement in itching was sustained in 78% of patients from Week 64 through Week 112, according to the company’s reported findings. Itching can significantly affect sleep, daily activities and quality of life for people with psoriasis, making symptom control an important treatment objective alongside visible skin clearance. The ICONIC-LEAD study also examined retreatment among patients who initially responded to ICOTYDE but were withdrawn from treatment at Week 24. Among patients who had achieved a PASI 90 response before withdrawal, 85% regained that response within 24 weeks of restarting treatment. This finding offers information about the ability to recapture a previously achieved response following treatment interruption. However, retreatment outcomes do not mean that stopping and restarting therapy is appropriate for every patient; treatment decisions should follow approved prescribing information and healthcare professional guidance. The company reported that safety findings through Week 112 remained consistent with the established safety profile, with no new safety signals identified in the study.
Advertisement
Johnson & Johnson Advances Oral Psoriasis Treatment
ICOTYDE represents Johnson & Johnson’s approach to targeted oral treatment for immune-mediated skin disease. Unlike conventional systemic therapies that may affect multiple biological pathways, icotrokinra is designed to selectively block IL-23 receptor signaling, which plays a central role in the inflammatory processes associated with plaque psoriasis. The medicine is taken as a once-daily oral tablet and received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in March 2026 for eligible adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kilograms and are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. The two-year ICONIC-LEAD findings therefore add longer-term clinical evidence for an already approved treatment option in the United States. The results reinforce the importance of sustained efficacy, symptom improvement and continued safety monitoring when evaluating treatments for chronic dermatological conditions. Further analyses and ongoing research will help clarify long-term outcomes across different patient groups and treatment settings. For cGxP.wire, the announcement represents a significant development in dermatology and targeted biopharmaceutical innovation, with potential relevance to clinicians, researchers and the pharmaceutical industry.
Source: Johnson & Johnson press release
