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Oral deucravacitinib, a treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, has demonstrated sustained efficacy and a favorable safety profile over three years, according to a new study published in JAMA Dermatology. The findings combine data from the POETYK PSO-1 and PSO-2 randomized trials, followed by a long-term extension (LTE) trial, offering encouraging evidence for clinicians managing this chronic condition.
The POETYK PSO-1 and PSO-2 studies were global, phase 3, double-blind trials comparing deucravacitinib with placebo and apremilast. Following 52 weeks, eligible participants transitioned into the LTE trial for open-label deucravacitinib therapy. Of the patients who began treatment on day 1, 513 continued into the LTE phase, which spanned August 2019 to June 2022.
The cumulative data revealed that deucravacitinib maintained its safety profile while adverse event (AE) rates decreased over time. Specifically, AEs declined from 229.2 events per 100 person-years in the first year to 144.8 events per 100 person-years over three years. Serious AEs and discontinuations due to AEs also remained low, with slight reductions observed as treatment continued.
Common AEs, such as nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infections, were less frequent during the study. While COVID-19 cases increased during the pandemic period, these were well-managed, and other conditions of interest—such as herpes zoster, cardiovascular events, and malignancies—occurred at low rates.
For patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, achieving durable symptom control is critical. This study demonstrated that patients maintained significant clinical improvements through 148 weeks of continuous treatment. Measures of efficacy, including a 75% or 90% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75/90) and achieving clear or almost clear skin (sPGA 0/1), were consistently met over the three-year period.
These findings are particularly significant as they underscore the durability of deucravacitinib’s benefits, positioning it as a reliable long-term therapeutic option. Importantly, the manageable safety profile and declining AE rates over time suggest that the drug not only sustains efficacy but also improves tolerability for patients.
Chronic plaque psoriasis poses ongoing challenges for patients and clinicians, requiring treatments that balance efficacy, safety, and tolerability. This study establishes deucravacitinib as a promising long-term solution, offering durable symptom control with a stable safety profile. As the management of psoriasis evolves, oral therapies like deucravacitinib could play a vital role in addressing the needs of patients seeking sustained relief from this chronic condition.