Deucravacitinib versus placebo and apremilast in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: Efficacy and safety results from the 52-week, randomized, double-blinded, phase 3 Program fOr Evaluation of TYK2 inhibitor psoriasis second trial.

Background: Deucravacitinib, an oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, inhibits cytokine signaling in psoriasis pathogenesis.
Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate deucravacitinib superiority versus placebo and apremilast in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis based on ≥75% reduction from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and a static Physician's Global Assessment score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) with a ≥2-point improvement from baseline at week 16.
Methods: POETYK psoriasis second trial (NCT03611751), a 52-week, double-blinded, phase 3 trial, randomized patients 2:1:1 to deucravacitinib 6 mg every day (n = 511), placebo (n = 255), or apremilast 30 mg twice a day (n = 254).
Results: At week 16, significantly more deucravacitinib-treated patients versus placebo and apremilast patients achieved ≥75% reduction from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (53.0% vs 9.4% and 39.8%; P < .0001 vs placebo; P = .0004 vs apremilast) and static Physician's Global Assessment score of 0 or 1 (49.5% vs 8.6% and 33.9%; P < .0001 for both). Efficacy was maintained until week 52 with continuous deucravacitinib. The most frequent adverse event with deucravacitinib was nasopharyngitis. Serious adverse events and discontinuations due to adverse events were infrequent. No clinically meaningful changes were observed in laboratory parameters.
Limitations: The study duration was 1 year.
Conclusion: Deucravacitinib demonstrated superiority versus placebo and apremilast and was well tolerated in adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest Dr Strober has served as a consultant (honoraria) for AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Arcutis, Arena, Aristea, Asana, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Connect Biopharma, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Equillium, GlaxoSmithKline, Immunic Therapeutics, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Maruho, Meiji Seika Pharma, Mindera, Novartis, Ortho Dermatologics, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi Genzyme, Sun Pharma, UCB, Ventyxbio, and vTv Therapeutics; has served as a speaker for AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Janssen, and Sanofi Genzyme; has served as a coscientific director (consulting fee) for CorEvitas' (Corrona) Psoriasis Registry; and has served as an investigator for AbbVie, Cara, CorEvitas' (Corrona) Psoriasis Registry, Dermavant, Dermira, and Novartis. Dr Thaçi has received grant/research support from and served on a scientific advisory board and a speakers bureau for AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Biogen Idec, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Galderma, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz-Hexal, Sanofi, Target-Solution, and UCB. Dr Sofen has served as a clinical investigator for AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Novartis, and Sun Pharma. Dr Kircik has received research grants from AbbVie, Allergan, Almirall, Amgen, Arcutis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Breckinridge Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Cellceutix, Centocor, Combinatrix, Connetics, Coria, Dermavant, Dermira, Dow Pharma, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Idera, Johnson & Johnson, Leo Pharma, Maruho, Merck, Medicis, Novartis AG, Pfizer, PharmaDerm, Promius, Stiefel, Sun Pharma, UCB, Valeant, and XenoPort; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Allergan, Almirall, Amgen, Arcutis, Biogen Idec, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Cipher, Connetics, Dermavant, Dermira, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Leo Pharma, Merck, Novartis AG, PharmaDerm, Promius, Serono (Merck Serono International SA), Stiefel, Sun Pharma, Taro, UCB, and Valeant. Dr Gordon has received grant support and consulting fees from AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, and UCB, and has received consulting fees from Amgen, Almirall, Dermira, Leo Pharma, Pfizer, and Sun Pharma. Dr Foley has received grant support from Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Sun Pharma; has served as an investigator for AbbVie, Amgen, Arcutis, Argenx, Aslan, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Botanix, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celtaxsys, CSL, Cutanea, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Evelo, Galderma, Genentech, Geneseq, GlaxoSmithKline, Hexima, Janssen, Kymab, Leo Pharma, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Reistone, Roche, Sanofi, Sun Pharma, Teva, UCB, and Valeant; has served on advisory boards for AbbVie, Amgen, Aslan, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Mayne Pharma, MedImmune, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, Sun Pharma, UCB, and Valeant; has served as a consultant for Aslan, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Galderma, GenesisCare, Hexima, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Mayne Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and UCB; has received travel grants from AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, and Sun Pharma; and has served as a speaker for or received honoraria from AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Sun Pharma, and Valeant. Dr Rich has received research grants as a principal investigator on pharmaceutical trials from AbbVie, Arcutis, Bristol Myers Squibb, Dermavant, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Sun Pharma, and UCB. Dr Paul has received grants from and has been a consultant for AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Merck, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, and UCB. Dr Bagel has received research funds payable to the Psoriasis Treatment Center of New Jersey from AbbVie, Amgen, Arcutis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, CorEvitas' (Corrona) Psoriasis Registry, Dermavant, Dermira/UCB, Eli Lilly, Glenmark, Janssen Biotech, Kadmon, Leo Pharma, Lycera, Menlo Therapeutics, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sun Pharma, Taro, and Valeant; has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen Biotech, Novartis, Sun Pharma, and Valeant; and has served as a speaker for AbbVie, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen Biotech, and Novartis. Dr Colston, Dr Sekaran, Ms Linaberry, and Dr Banerjee are employees of and shareholders in Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr Throup and Dr Kundu were employees of and shareholders in Bristol Myers Squibb at the time of study conduct. Dr Papp has served on a speakers bureau for AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Janssen, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Leo Pharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, and Valeant; has received grant/research support from AbbVie, Akros, Allergan, Amgen, Anacor, Arcutis, AstraZeneca, Baxalta, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Coherus, Dermira, Dow Pharma, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Leo Pharma, MedImmune, Meiji Seika Pharma, Merck Serono, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda, UCB, and Valeant; has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Akros, Amgen, Arcutis, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Baxalta, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CanFite, Celgene, Coherus, Dermira, Dow Pharma, Eli Lilly, Forward Pharma, Galderma, Genentech, Janssen, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Leo Pharma, Meiji Seika Pharma, Merck Serono, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mitsubishi Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Takeda, UCB, and Valeant; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Akros, Amgen, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Coherus, Eli Lilly, Forward Pharma, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Merck Serono, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda, UCB, and Valeant; and has served as scientific officer or on a steering committee/advisory board for AbbVie, Akros, Amgen, Anacor, Astellas, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Dow Pharma, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Janssen, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Merck Serono, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi Genzyme, and Valeant.
(Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)