If you have psoriasis and have weighed a pill against a shot, your first question is probably how long the results last. New two-year data on ICOTYDE (icotrokinra), the once-daily psoriasis pill approved in March, gives an encouraging answer.
As reported by Dermatology Times, results from the phase 3 ICONIC-LEAD trial were presented at the 2026 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference in Las Vegas. Between weeks 64 and 112, at least 72 percent of patients taking ICOTYDE had skin that was at least 90 percent clearer. At least 44 percent had completely clear skin over the same period.
What the research shows
The trial enrolled 684 people ages 12 and older with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, including 66 adolescents. Of those, 456 took ICOTYDE and 228 took a placebo. At least 70 percent of patients were rated clear or almost clear by their doctors, and 78 percent kept a meaningful improvement in itch.
The researchers also tracked what happened when people stopped. Some patients had reached 90 percent clearer skin and were then taken off ICOTYDE at week 24. When they restarted it, 85 percent got back to that level within 24 weeks. No new safety concerns emerged through week 112.
“As plaque psoriasis is a chronic lifelong disease, durable results are essential in therapy selection,” said New York dermatologist Mark Lebwohl, MD, professor and chair emeritus of the Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an investigator on the trial.
The scalp, hands and nails saw results, too
Psoriasis on the most visible spots is often the hardest to treat. A separate trial, ICONIC-TOTAL, looked at these areas, and its two-year data was presented at EADV 2026. By week 112, 70 percent of patients with psoriasis in these areas were clear or almost clear, up from 57 percent at week 16. Psoriasis cleared completely in 60 percent of patients with it on the scalp, 63 percent with it on the hands or feet and 89 percent with it in the genital area. Nail psoriasis improved as well. The average improvement rose from 33 percent at week 16 to 71 percent at week 112.
How it works
ICOTYDE blocks the IL-23 receptor, part of the same inflammatory pathway that many of today’s leading injectables target. It comes as a 200-mg tablet taken once a day. The FDA approved it for people ages 12 and older who have moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, weigh at least 40 kilograms (about 88 pounds) and are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. It’s also approved in Europe, Japan and China.
What this means for you
There’s a small routine involved. You take the tablet right after waking up, with water on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before eating. If you have trouble swallowing pills, you can disperse it in water. The most common side effects in the prescribing information are headache, nausea, cough, fungal infection and fatigue.
More comparison data is coming. In earlier head-to-head trials, ICOTYDE outperformed deucravacitinib, another oral psoriasis pill, and a trial against the injectable ustekinumab is underway. In the meantime, the right fit still depends on your skin and health history, so bring these results to your next dermatologist appointment. If you’re also planning cosmetic treatments while managing psoriasis, mention that too.
