Takeda has announced positive results from two Phase III studies for its oral plaque psoriasis drug candidate, zasocitinib. The company reported that the treatment significantly reduced disease severity among adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. These findings position Takeda as a potential competitor to Bristol Myers Squibb in the oral psoriasis market.
Jefferies analysts estimate that the oral psoriasis segment could surpass $5 billion by 2030. They noted that patients generally prefer pills over injectable treatments and stated that zasocitinib’s efficacy and safety profile may support regulatory approval. Takeda plans to submit a new drug application for zasocitinib at the beginning of its 2026 fiscal year, starting in April.
Takeda acquired zasocitinib from Nimbus Therapeutics in late 2022 for $4 billion. Andy Plump, Takeda’s head of research and development, said the company had outcompeted “almost every biopharmaceutical company” to secure this asset.
The two LATITUDE studies enrolled more than 1,800 adult participants. Both trials compared zasocitinib against placebo and Amgen’s Otezla. According to Takeda, about 30 percent of patients receiving zasocitinib achieved complete skin clearance on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), while more than half reached PASI 90—indicating clear or almost clear skin.
Although detailed data were limited in Takeda's announcement, Jefferies described zasocitinib as showing “best-in-class Ph3 results,” highlighting its potential impact on the oral psoriasis market.
Zasocitinib was developed using artificial intelligence technology, making it highly selective—reportedly “1.7 million times” more so than other drugs targeting psoriasis. After reprioritizing its research pipeline this fall and discontinuing cell therapy programs, Takeda expanded its collaboration with AI-driven discovery firm Nabla Bio to develop new early-stage candidates.
Takeda is conducting a Phase III trial directly comparing zasocitinib with Bristol Myers Squibb’s Sotyktu, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for plaque psoriasis in September 2022. Sotyktu generated $246 million globally last year—a 45% increase over the previous year—and completion of Takeda's comparative study is expected by July next year.
In addition to competing with Sotyktu, zasocitinib will face Johnson & Johnson’s icotrokinra, which recently showed a 50% PASI 90 response rate in clinical testing. Analysts at Truist commented that while zasocitinib appears similar in performance to icotrokinra, Johnson & Johnson has an advantage as their product may reach regulatory decision first in 2026.
