A Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Deucravacitinib for Plaque Psoriasis: An Expert Consensus Panel

February 2025 | Volume 24 | Issue 2 | 8616 | Copyright © February 2025


Published online January 28, 2025

doi:10.36849/JDD.8616

Milaan Shah MDa, Joshua Burshtein MDa, Danny Zakria MD MBAa, Erin Boh MD PhDb, Michael Cameron MDc, Brad Glick DO MPHd, Alexandra Golant MDa, George Han MD PhDa, Sylvia Hsu MDe, Benjamin Lockshin MDf, Andrea Neimann MDg, David Rosmarin MDh, Mark Lebwohl MDa

aDermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
bDermatology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
cCameron Dermatology, New York, NY
dGlick Skin Institute, Margate, FL
eDermatology, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
fUS Dermatology Partners, Rockville, MD
gDermatology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
hDermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN

Abstract
Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory disease associated with numerous negative physical and psychosocial impacts. Deucravacitinib is a novel, selective TYK2 inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults. Deucravacitinib has established efficacy and safety through several clinical trials, but many clinicians are unfamiliar with its safety profile given the lack of formal guidelines. Thus, this expert consensus panel aims to provide clinical recommendations on the efficacy, safety, and appropriate laboratory monitoring for deucravacitinib.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was completed for English-language original research articles on the efficacy and safety of deucravacitinib. A panel of 10 dermatologists with expertise in managing psoriasis reviewed the relevant literature and crafted consensus statements regarding the efficacy, safety, and recommended laboratory monitoring for deucravacitinib. Using a modified Delphi process, each statement received supermajority approval and was assigned a strength of recommendation using the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) criteria.
Results: The literature search resulted in 101 articles that met search criteria. After screening the articles for relevance to the discussion topic, 14 articles were selected and distributed to the panelists for review prior to the roundtable discussion. The panel unanimously voted to adopt 6 consensus statements and recommendations, 5 of which were given a strength of “A,” 0 were given a strength of “B,” and 1 was given a strength of “C.”
Conclusion: Deucravacitinib is an effective treatment for plaque psoriasis that is well-tolerated and has an excellent safety profile. The 6 consensus statements created by the panel provide expert recommendations regarding the efficacy, safety, and appropriate laboratory monitoring for deucravacitinib. The expert panel also concludes that deucravacitinib has a superior safety profile to traditional JAK inhibitors. After reviewing the clinical trials, the panel did not find evidence of a causal role for deucravacitinib in inducing laboratory abnormalities and did not recommend baseline and ongoing laboratory monitoring for patients treated with deucravacitinib.

J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(2): doi:10.36849/JDD.8616

INTRODUCTION

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disorder of the skin that can also affect the joints, heart, and eyes.1 Psoriasis impacts an estimated 2% of the United States (US) population and can cause significant psychosocial impairment and worsened quality of life (QOL).1,2 Numerous modalities for the treatment of psoriasis exist, including topical medications, systemic agents, and phototherapy.3 The immune response of psoriasis is sustained by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-23, and agents that interfere with these cytokines have served as effective treatments for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.4,5

Deucravacitinib is a first-in-class, oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults.6 Tyrosine kinases are members of the Janus kinase (JAK)

Close Menu