Deucravacitinib (Sotyktu, Bristol Myers Squibb) has demonstrated significant efficacy in treating moderate to severe scalp psoriasis and overall psoriasis, according to results presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress. Data from the phase 3 PSORIATYK SCALP trial and the real-world RePhlect registry support the use of deucravacitinib as a safe and effective treatment, particularly highlighting its benefit as a once-daily oral medication.
PSORIATYK SCALP Trial Results
The PSORIATYK SCALP trial, an ongoing 52-week study, evaluated the effectiveness of oral deucravacitinib for scalp psoriasis. The trial included 154 patients with scalp psoriasis, randomized to receive either deucravacitinib (n = 103) or placebo (n = 51). At week 16, 48.5% of patients treated with deucravacitinib achieved a scalp-specific Physician’s Global Assessment (PGA) score of 0 or 1, compared to only 13.7% in the placebo group (P < .0001).
Furthermore, 38.8% of deucravacitinib-treated patients experienced a 90% improvement in scalp psoriasis severity, versus 2% of the placebo group (P < .0001). Patients also reported significant reductions in itch, with a change from baseline of -3.2 in the deucravacitinib group compared to -0.7 in the placebo group (P < .0001).
Deucravacitinib-treated patients also achieved higher rates of relief in key psoriasis symptoms including scalp-specific itch (41.7% vs. 9.8%; P < .0001), pain (26.2% vs. 11.8%; P = .0372) and flaking (53.4% vs. 19.6%; P < .0001). The safety profile of deucravacitinib in this trial was consistent with previous studies.
Real-World Evidence from RePhlect Registry
The RePhlect registry, a real-world study, assessed the effectiveness of consistent deucravacitinib treatment over six months in 118 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The study found that 67.9% and 64.1% of patients treated with deucravacitinib achieved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores of 3 or less and body surface area (BSA) involvement scores of 3% or less, respectively. Additionally, 46.8% of patients achieved Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) scores of 0 or 1.
Expert Commentary
"Approximately 80% of individuals with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis are affected in their scalp, which is an area that can be difficult to treat," said Dan Quirk, MD, MPH, MBA, senior vice president of worldwide immunology and neuroscience medical affairs at Bristol Myers Squibb. "The PSORIATYK SCALP results demonstrate that Sotyktu is a safe and effective treatment for these people, especially those who prefer the convenience of a once-daily oral medication."
Quirk added, "These findings from the RePhlect study provide confidence that dermatologists can experience similar efficacy results for their patients in real-world practice."
