Daily Pill Promises Clear Skin for Plaque Psoriasis

A new oral medication, zasocitinib, promises a convenient alternative to injections for people with severe plaque psoriasis. Clinical trials across 21 countries included nearly 1,800 adults with moderate‑to‑severe disease.

• Efficacy
• 70% of participants achieved clear or almost clear skin within 16 weeks when taking a single daily dose.
• Compared to a placebo and the existing oral treatment apremilast, only 30% of apremilast users saw significant improvement—less than half the response rate of zasocitinib.
• Visible changes were reported as early as four weeks, and benefits persisted for most patients over a year of daily use.

• Safety
• Common side effects: mild upper respiratory infections.
• 6.5% of users developed acne, a known reaction to this drug class.
• No new safety concerns emerged during the trials.

Takeda plans to file for FDA approval within a year. The findings were presented at a dermatology conference but have not yet appeared in a peer‑reviewed journal.

If approved, this daily pill could challenge the prevailing belief that only injections are effective for plaque psoriasis and significantly improve patients’ quality of life.