Takeda has announced new data from the two pivotal phase 3 studies of zasocitinib (TAK-279) in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO). The treatment, a next-generation, highly selective and potent oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, is taken as a once-daily pill.
Presented at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Innovation Academy, the data shows that zasocitinib demonstrated consistent and high rates of skin clearance across hard-to-treat, high-impact sites, including the scalp, nails, palms and soles, compared with placebo.
Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterised by itchy, painful, disfiguring and disabling skin lesions that impact one’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being.
Globally, an estimated 64 million people are living with psoriasis, and about 80-90% of those have plaque psoriasis. Persistent itch, the appearance and location of skin lesions – especially in highly visible or sensitive areas – and related comorbidities, like psoriatic arthritis, play a major role in reducing quality of life and can lead to significant impacts on daily living.
“Psoriasis is a complex, heterogeneous disease that can present differently across patients and over time, particularly in high-impact sites that are often difficult to treat,” said Chinwe Ukomadu, senior vice president and head, Gastrointestinal & Inflammation Therapeutic Area Unit at Takeda. “TYK2 plays a key role in regulating core disease-driving immune pathways, including the IL-23/IL-17 axis and type I interferon, which contribute to variability in disease presentation and treatment response. Our phase 3 results reinforce the potential of our next-generation TYK2 inhibitor to deliver rapid, durable and consistent skin clearance in a convenient once-daily pill.”
Takeda plans to submit a New Drug Application for plaque psoriasis with the US FDA and other regulatory authorities beginning this fiscal year. Zasocitinib is also being evaluated in phase 3 studies in psoriatic arthritis and phase 2 studies in Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, vitiligo and hidradenitis suppurativa.