Protagonist Therapeutics Unveils Groundbreaking Results For Icotrokinra In Plaque Psoriasis Treatment
$PTGX
Protagonist Therapeutics (NASDAQ: PTGX) has announced promising results from its Phase 3 clinical trials for icotrokinra, an oral treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The company reported that nearly half of patients achieved complete skin clearance by Week 24, a potential game-changer for those affected by the chronic skin condition.
In the ICONIC-LEAD trial, 46% of patients reached an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 0, indicating no visible disease. Additionally, 40% of participants achieved a PASI 100 score, reflecting total skin clearance. These results were supported by the ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 and 2 trials, which showed that icotrokinra not only met its primary endpoints but also outperformed deucravacitinib, an existing treatment, with improvements visible as early as Week 16.
Following these successes, Protagonist and its partner, Johnson & Johnson, are initiating a new study, ICONIC-ASCEND. This will be the first head-to-head comparison between an oral psoriasis treatment and an injectable biologic, ustekinumab. The trial aims to highlight the potential of pill-based therapies as a convenient and effective alternative to injectables.
Dinesh V. Patel, Ph.D., President and CEO of Protagonist Therapeutics, described icotrokinra as a potential paradigm shift in psoriasis care. He emphasized its ability to offer complete skin clearance in a once-daily oral dose, alongside a favorable safety profile. If approved, the drug could become a first-line systemic therapy for millions living with this immune-mediated disease.
Plaque psoriasis affects around 8 million people in the United States and over 125 million globally. The condition is not only physically uncomfortable but can also lead to emotional and psychological distress, particularly when it affects visible or sensitive areas of the body.
The company is also conducting other trials under the ICONIC program, including ICONIC-TOTAL, which focuses on difficult-to-treat areas such as the scalp and genitals, and ICONIC-PsA 2, which targets psoriatic arthritis. In addition to icotrokinra, Protagonist is advancing rusfertide, a treatment for the rare blood disorder polycythemia vera, currently in Phase 3 development.
With these developments, Protagonist Therapeutics continues to strengthen its position in the field of peptide-based therapies, aiming to address both common and rare diseases with high unmet medical needs.
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