TYK2 inhibitor is being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and the early Phase II trial results have been great. Why? Here is the scientific talk: the TYK2 inhibitor has been shown to be 100 times more selective in inhibiting IL-23 , IL-12, and interferon-alpha than JAK 1/3 inhibitors and 3,000 times more selective than JAK 2 inhibitors. What do you have to know: IL-23 is the primary cytokine responsible for developing psoriatic lesions and this new mediation works very well and blocking it.
It will be a while before this medication will be available as further studies are needed for both efficacy and, more importantly, safety. At least there will be another medication that may be the answer for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Oh, and of course what will the price tag be for this new drug? Who knows, but as history as shown us with the other new psoriasis drugs, we expect that it will be a lot.
Risankizumab also known as BI-655066 is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin 23A (IL-23A). This drug is also in Phase II trials and has had great success.
It is exciting to see even more effective treatments for psoriasis on the horizon.
