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ICOTYDE™

(icotrokinra)

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ICOTYDE - Treatment of Scalp Psoriasis

Last Updated: 06/19/2026

SUMMARY

  • The company cannot recommend any practices, procedures, or usage of ICOTYDE that deviate from the approved labeling.
  • The safety and efficacy of ICOTYDE in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) was evaluated in the ICONIC-TOTAL (NCT06095102), ICONIC-LEAD (NCT06095115), ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 (NCT06143878), and ICONIC-ADVANCE 2 (NCT06220604) phase 3 clinical trials. Summarized below are data specific to scalp PsO across these studies.
    • In ICONIC-TOTAL, 66% vs 11% of patients in the ICOTYDE vs placebo (PBO) groups, respectively, achieved a scalp-specific Investigator’s Global Assessment (ss-IGA) score of 0 or 1 (ss-IGA 0/1, clear or almost clear skin) at week 16 (treatment difference, 56%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 44.8-64.4; P<0.001).1
      • In the ICOTYDE group, the ss-IGA 0/1 response rate at week 52 was 72%.2
    • In a pooled analysis of these 4 phase 3 trials, ICOTYDE demonstrated higher clearance vs PBO at week 16 (ss-IGA 0/1: 72% vs 16%; ss-IGA 0: 54% vs 9%), and at week 24, response rates were maintained or improved in the ICOTYDE group vs increased in the PBO→ICOTYDE crossover group (ss-IGA 0/1: 79% vs 73%;
      ss-IGA 0: 64% vs 46%).3

CLINICAL DATA

ICONIC-TOTAL

Warren et al (2026),2 Gooderham et al (2025),1 and Lain et al (2025)4 evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral ICOTYDE 200 mg once daily in patients ≥12 years of age with plaque PsO and at least moderate high-impact site involvement (scalp, genitals, and/or hands/feet) in an ongoing phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind (DB), PBO-controlled study.

Study Design/Methods

  • Key inclusion criteria1,2
    • Adults (≥18 years) and adolescents (≥12 to <18) with plaque PsO diagnosed for ≥26 weeks at screening; candidate for phototherapy or systemic therapy with an inadequate response to ≥1 topical therapy
    • Total body surface area (BSA) involvement ≥1% and Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score ≥2
    • Involvement of ≥1 high-impact sites with at least moderate severity (ss-IGA score ≥3, static Physician’s Global Assessment of Genitalia [sPGA-G] score ≥3, Physician’s Global Assessment of hands and feet [hf-PGA] ≥3)
  • Patients were randomized (2:1) to receive oral ICOTYDE 200 mg or PBO once daily, with PBO crossover to ICOTYDE at week 16 and active treatment through week 156.1,2
  • The primary and select secondary outcome measures are described in Table: Select ICONIC-TOTAL Outcome Measures at Week 16.

Select ICONIC-TOTAL Outcome Measures at Week 161,2
Primary Endpoint
Percentage of patients who achieved an IGA score of clear (0) or minimal (1) and ≥2-grade improvement from baseline
Select Secondary Endpoints
Percentage of patients who achieved ss-IGA score of absence of disease (0) or very mild disease (1)
Percentage of patients who achieved PSSI 90 response
Percentage of patients who achieved CMI (≥4-point improvement from baseline) in Scalp Itch NRS score
Abbreviations: CMI, clinically meaningful improvement; IGA, Investigator’s Global Assessment; NRS, numeric rating scale; PSSI, Psoriasis Scalp Severity Index; ss-IGA, scalp-specific Investigator’s Global Assessment.

Results

Patient Characteristics
  • A total of 311 patients (ICOTYDE, n=208; PBO, n=103) were included in the study.1
  • A total of 275 patients (88%) completed the 52-week treatment period, 184 (88%) of which were randomized to ICOTYDE. Of the 92 patients randomized to PBO who transitioned to ICOTYDE at week 16, 91 (99%) completed the 52-week treatment period.2
  • Overall, 200 patients (64%) were male and 243 (78%) were White. The mean (standard deviation) age was 44.7 (14.3) years (6 patients [2%] were adolescents).2,5
  • In the ICOTYDE and PBO groups, respectively, 80% (167/208) and 83% (85/103) of patients had at least moderate scalp PsO at baseline (ss-IGA score ≥3).1
Efficacy
  • Primary endpoint: 57% (118/208) vs 6% (6/103) of patients receiving ICOTYDE vs PBO, respectively, achieved IGA 0/1 response at week 16 (treatment difference, 51% [95% CI, 42.1-58.8]; P< 0.001).1
  • ss-IGA 0/1 response rates are presented in Figure: ss-IGA 0/1 Response Rates through Week 52.2 
  • Other select endpoints are described in Table: Other Select ICONIC-TOTAL Endpoints through Week 52.
  • Among 110 patients randomized to ICOTYDE who achieved an ss-IGA 0/1 response at week 16, 88% sustained the response at week 52.2

ss-IGA 0/1a Response Rates through Week 522

Abbreviations: ICO, icotrokinra, PBO, placebo, PsO, psoriasis; ss-IGA, scalp-specific Investigator’s Global Assessment.
Note: Week 52 data are exploratory.
aAmong patients with a baseline ss-IGA score≥3.
bMultiplicity-adjusted P-values were based on a Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test stratified by geographic region and BSA category.


Other Select ICONIC-TOTAL Endpoints through Week 521,2,4
ICO
N=167

PBO
N=85

Treatment Difference (95% CI)
or P-value

PBO→ICO Crossovera
N=75

Proportion of patients achieving endpoint, %
   ss-IGA 0b
      Week 16
49
2
Nominal P<0.001c,d
-
      Week 24
60
-
-
39
      Week 52
57
-
-
61
   PSSI 90b
      Week 16
57
6
52% (41.7-60.3)
P=0.008c
-
      Week 24
69
-
-
49
      Week 52
63
-
-
69
   CMI in Scalp Itch NRSe
      Week 16
59
9
50% (37.8-60.6) P=0.008c
-
      Week 24
78
-
-
72
      Week 52
74
-
-
78
Abbreviations: BSA, body surface area; CI, confidence interval; CMI, clinically meaningful improvement (≥4-point improvement from baseline); ICO, ICOTYDE; IGA, Investigator’s Global Assessment; NRS, numeric rating scale; PBO, placebo; PSSI, Psoriasis Scalp Severity Index; PSSI 90, reduction from baseline of ≥90% in the PSSI score; ss-IGA, scalp-specific Investigator’s Global Assessment.
aPatients crossed over from PBO to ICO at week 16.
bAmong patients with a baseline ss-IGA score ≥3
cP-values were calculated based on Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test stratified by high-impact site involvement (if applicable), geographic region, and/or BSA category (if applicable).
dThis endpoint was not adjusted for multiple comparisons. Therefore, the P-value displayed is nominal, and statistical significance has not been established.
eAmong patients with a baseline Scalp Itch NRS score ≥4 and a ss-IGA score ≥3 (ICO, N=131; PBO, N=58).

Overall Safety
  • Through week 16, the most common adverse events (AEs; ≥5% of patients in any group) were nasopharyngitis (ICOTYDE, 12%; PBO, 11%), upper respiratory tract infection (ICOTYDE, 4%; PBO, 5%), and headache (ICOTYDE, 3%; PBO, 6%).2
  • Through week 52, the ICOTYDE safety profile was comparable with that observed
  • through week 16.
  • No new safety signals were identified through week 52. For more details, see Table: Overall AEs in ICONIC-TOTAL through Week 52.2,4

Overall AEs in ICONIC-TOTAL through Week 522,4
Weeks
0-16

Weeks
16-52

Through
Week 52

ICO (n=208)
PBO (n=103)
PBO→ICO (n=92)
ICO
(n=208)

ICO Combineda (n=300)
Mean weeks/total PYs of follow-up
16.0/63.6
15.6/30.8
36.2/63.9
49.3/196.4
45.3/260.2
≥1 AE, n (%)
105 (50.5)
46 (44.7)
51 (55.4)
153 (73.6)
204 (68.0)
≥1 SAE, n (%)
1 (0.5)
2 (1.9)
1 (1.1)
6 (2.9)
7 (2.3)
AEs leading to discontinuation, n (%)
6 (2.9)
4 (3.9)
0
7 (3.4)
7 (2.3)
≥1 infection, n (%)
59 (28.4)
23 (22.3)
39 (42.4)
106 (51.0)
145 (48.3)
≥1 serious infection, n (%)
0
1 (1.0)
0
0
0
≥1 gastrointestinal AE, n (%)
15 (7.2)
8 (7.8)
7 (7.6)
21 (10.1)
28 (9.3)
≥1 malignancy,b n (%)
1 (0.5)
0
0
2 (1.0)
2 (0.7)
Abbreviations: AE, adverse event; ICO, ICOTYDE; PBO, placebo; PY, patient-year; SAE, serious adverse event.
aIncludes data for ICO-randomized patients through week 52 and for PBO→ICO patients from week 16 through week 52.
bMalignancy includes chronic lymphocytic leukemia and malignant melanoma in situ.

Pooled Analyses of Phase 3 Studies

Soung et al (2026)3 evaluated the effects of ICOTYDE in a pooled cohort of patients with PsO involving high-impact sites, including the scalp, genitals, hands/feet, and/or nails, across 4 phase 3 studies (ICONIC-LEAD, ICONIC-TOTAL, ICONIC-ADVANCE 1, and ICONIC-ADVANCE 2; N=1866).

Study Design/Methods

  • For the study design of ICONIC‑TOTAL (N=311), please refer to the relevant section above.
  • ICONIC‑LEAD (N=684) enrolled patients aged ≥12 years with moderate to severe plaque PsO defined as BSA ≥10%, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) ≥12, and IGA ≥3. Patients were randomized 2:1 to oral ICOTYDE 200 mg once daily or PBO, with PBO crossover at week 16.3,6
  • ICONIC-ADVANCE 1 (N=467) and ICONIC-ADVANCE 2 (N=404) had the same inclusion criteria as ICONIC-LEAD but enrolled only adult patients. The pooled analysis included patients randomized to ICOTYDE or PBO (ADVANCE 1, 2:1; ADVANCE 2, 4:1), with PBO crossover at week 16.3
  • Select outcome: ss-IGA 0/1 and ss-IGA 0 response rates through week 24.

Results

Patient Characteristics
  • At baseline, 72% of patients in both the ICOTYDE (935/1297) and PBO (408/569) groups had an ss-IGA score ≥3.3

Baseline Characteristics of Patients with an ss-IGA score ≥33
ICO
(n=935)

PBO
(n=408)

Demographics
   Age, years, mean (SD)
43.6 (14.9)
44.1 (14.6)
   Female, n (%)
318 (34)
142 (35)
   Race, %
      Asian/Black/White
21/2/75
23/1/75
   BMI, kg/m2, mean (SD)
29.3 (6.5)a
29.3 (7.4)a
Disease Characteristics
   PsO duration, years, mean (SD)
16.7 (12.8)
16.8 (12.7)
   % of BSA with PsO, mean (SD)
23.9 (14.9)
23.4 (15.0)
   IGA score, %
      Moderate (3)/Severe (4)
74/25
73/26
   PASI (0-72), mean (SD)
19.3 (7.7)
19.1 (7.9)
Prior PsO Treatments, %
   Phototherapy(PUVA and UVB)
34
31
   Systemic therapyᵇ
73
71
      Biologic therapyᶜ
30
33
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; BSA, body surface area; ICO, ICOTYDE; IGA, Investigator’s Global Assessment; PASI, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index; PBO, placebo; PsO, psoriasis; PUVA, psoralen plus ultraviolet A; SD, standard deviation; ss-IGA, scalp-specific Investigator’s Global Assessment;
UVB, ultraviolet B.
aICO, n=930; PBO, n=405.
bConventional nonbiologic systemics, novel nonbiologic systemics, 1,25-vitamin D3 and analogs, phototherapy, and biologics.
cAdalimumab, alefacept, briakinumab, brodalumab, certolizumab pegol, efalizumab, etanercept, guselkumab, infliximab, ixekizumab, natalizumab, risankizumab, secukinumab, tildrakizumab, and ustekinumab.

Efficacy
  • Among patients with a baseline ss‑IGA score ≥3, 72% of ICOTYDE-treated patients achieved ss‑IGA 0/1 at week 16, compared with 16% receiving PBO. At week 24, 79% of ICOTYDE-treated patients and 73% of PBO→ICOTYDE crossover patients achieved ss‑IGA 0/1.3
    • Fifty-four percent of ICOTYDE‑treated patients achieved ss‑IGA 0 at week 16, compared with 9% receiving PBO. At week 24, 64% of ICOTYDE-treated patients and 46% of PBO→ICOTYDE crossover patients achieved ss-IGA 0.
Safety

Pooled Safety in Patients with at Least Moderate High-Impact Site PsO through Week 16a,3
ICO
(n=1068)

PBO
(n=460)

Follow-up duration, weeks, mean
15.9
15.6
Any AE, n (%)
516 (48)
233 (51)
Serious AE, n (%)
15 (1)
9 (2)
AE leading to discontinuation, n (%)
21 (2)
15 (3)
Infection, n (%)
252 (24)
114 (25)
   Serious infection, %
0
1 (<1)
Malignancy, n (%)
5 (<1)
1 (<1)
Abbreviations: AE, adverse event; hf-PGA, Physician’s Global Assessment of Hands and/or Feet; ICO, ICOTYDE; PBO, placebo; PsO, psoriasis; sPGA-G, static Physician’s Global Assessment of Genitalia; ss-IGA, scalp‑specific Investigator’s Global Assessment.
Note: Safety analysis set includes all randomized and treated patients.
aPooled phase 3 cohort with at least moderate PsO (ss-IGA, sPGA-G, and/or hf-PGA score ≥3) at ≥1 high-impact site.

LITERATURE SEARCH

A literature search of MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, BIOSIS Previews®, and DERWENT® (and/or other resources, including internal/external databases) was conducted on 11 June 2026.

 

References

1 Gooderham M, Lain E, Bissonnette R, et al. Targeted oral peptide icotrokinra for psoriasis involving high-impact sites. NEJM Evid. 2025;4(12):EVIDoa2500155.  
2 Warren RB, Gooderham M, Lain E, et al. Durability of response to icotrokinra for high-impact site psoriasis: 1-year ICONIC-TOTAL findings. [published online ahead of print May 23, 2026]. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. doi:10.1111/jdv.70471.  
3 Soung J, Armstrong AW, Vender RB, et al. Treatment of plaque psoriasis involving high-impact sites with icotrokinra, a targeted oral peptide: pooled analyses of 4 phase 3 placebo-controlled trials. Oral presentation presented at: American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting; March 27-31, 2026; Denver, CO.  
4 Lain E, Warren RB, Gooderham M, et al. Durability of response to the targeted oral peptide icotrokinra for high-impact site psoriasis: 1-year ICONIC-TOTAL findings. Poster presented at: Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference; October 23-26, 2025; Las Vegas, NV.  
5 Gooderham M, Lain E, Bissonnette R, et al. Supplement to: Targeted oral peptide icotrokinra for psoriasis involving high-impact sites. NEJM Evid. 2025;4(12):EVIDoa2500155.  
6 Bissonnette R, Soung J, Hebert AA, et al. Oral icotrokinra for plaque psoriasis in adults and adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(18):1784-1795.  

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