Significance of Icotrokinra Findings for Adolescents with Psoriasis, with Lawrence Eichenfield, MD

A subgroup analysis of the ICONIC-LEAD study had its findings presented at the World Congress of Pediatric Dermatology Annual Meeting, demonstrating that adolescents living with moderate-to-severe psoriasis given once-daily treatment with icotrokinra (JNJ-2113) saw increased rates of clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks versus placebo.1

After these data were released by Johnson & Johnson, the HCPLive editorial team interviewed Lawrence Eichenfield, MD, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and professor of dermatology and pediatrics at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, who had been an investigator in this analysis. Here, Eichenfield highlights the study’s findings and their significance for dermatologists.

“I think my big takeaway is that we have incredibly potent results in terms of this drug, with an incredibly good safety profile as well,” Eichenfield explained. “An easy number to walk away with is that there was almost 90% of patients made PASI 90 at 24 weeks, so we didn't even show PASI 75 data…It was 86.6% of patients at 24 weeks, it was 70.5% at the earlier time point of 16 weeks, and very low placebo response rate at 16 weeks.”

In the team’s other primary endpoint, which was an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score of 0/1 (clear or almost clear skin) with a 2-grade improvement at least, 84.1% of subjects at the 16-week mark and 86.4% at the 24-week mark reported such a response.

“You have to mention the safety as well, and the data set is very consistent,” Eichenfield said. “The overall study population data set was as well, which [means there were] not a lot of remarkable adverse events. There happened to be 2 serious adverse events in the adolescent group, but neither of them was considered secondary to the drug. One patient temporarily stopped the drug and went right back on it. Another 1 had been hospitalized for an evaluation, but it was not related to the drug and never stop the drug. Otherwise, it was an unremarkable side effect profile.”

Eichenfield was asked about what these results should mean to dermatologists and health care professionals reviewing the data from his team’s analysis.

“The big picture is that this technology has set up essentially biologic-like efficacy in an oral agent,” Eichenfield explained. “Certainly for adolescent psoriasis with this particular drug, in this particular peptide, I think having the ability to get such rapid effectiveness with a great safety profile, without the need for injectables, and without concerns about blood work, it's really going to be incredibly well received by the dermatology community.”

View the full video posted above to find additional information on this segment of Eichenfield’s interview.

The quotes implemented in this summary were edited for the purposes of clarity. Eichenfield is 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.