Notable Attributes of Icotrokinra for Adolescents with Psoriasis, with Lawrence Eichenfield, MD

New data released by Johnson & Johnson from a subgroup analysis of the ICONIC-LEAD study were presented at the 2025 World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology (WCPD) Annual Meeting and demonstrated that adolescents with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with once-daily icotrokinra (JNJ-2113) received higher rates of clear or almost clear skin at the 16-week mark versus placebo.1

These new data resulted from the first-ever phase 3 registrational analysis of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to assess a systemic medication in adolescents and adults simultaneously. To discuss icotrokinra, the HCPLive team spoke with Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and professor of dermatology and pediatrics and vice-chair of the department of dermatology at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

“This is an exciting drug because it's bringing a new technology into the space that had basically been inhabited by injectable biologics,” Eichenfield explained. “We know that in pediatric psoriasis or adolescent psoriasis, something that's common, almost a third of adults relate that they had onset of their psoriasis in adolescent years or earlier. And most of our highest level efficacy medications for psoriasis were injectables.”

Eichenfield highlighted that what he finds exciting about icotrokinra is that the medication is a oral peptide formulated to block interleukin (IL)-23 at the receptor level. IL-23 is a potent regulator of psoriasis, Eichenfiled noted, with a variety of downstream effects on IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-23.

“This is an oral agent, an oral blockade that can block IL-23 effects,” Eichenfield said. “Previously, we've seen in the phase 2 trials and the combination phase 3 trials great efficacy and safety.”

Eichenfield also discussed the phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD’s design, highlighting that the randomized control trial was set up to evaluate icotrokinra’s efficacy and safety versus placebo among a total of 684 trial participants. He later highlighted various elements of the study and the recent findings on icotrokinra.

For additional information on this segment of Eichenfield’s interview, view the full interview posted above.

The quotes used in the above summary were edited for clarity.

Eichenfield reports being a paid consultant for Johnson & Johnson.

References

1. Icotrokinra results show 75% of adolescents with plaque psoriasis achieved completely clear skin and demonstrate favorable safety profile in a once daily pill. Johnson & Johnson. April 10, 2025. Date accessed: April 11, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icotrokinra-results-show-75-of-adolescents-with-plaque-psoriasis-achieved-completely-clear-skin-and-demonstrate-favorable-safety-profile-in-a-once-daily-pill-302425136.html.