Palmoplantar Psoriasis Data Show Zasocitinib Edge Over Apremilast

“Palmoplantar psoriasis is one of the most common results of disabilities in dermatology. People cannot work; they cannot use their hands; they cannot step on their feet. It's so painful,” said Leon Kircik, MD, in a recent interview.

Kircik, a dermatologist, clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, medical director of Derm Research, PLLC and Physicians Skin Care, PLLC, and principal investigator for the LATITUDE PsO studies, recently discussed palmoplantar psoriasis data with zasocitinib (Takeda) presented at the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Innovation Academy.¹ Kircik reviewed sub-analysis data from the LATITUDE PsO 3001 (NCT06671483) and 3002 (NCT06671496) phase 3 trials in patients with moderate palmoplantar psoriasis. He detailed skin clearance rates for zasocitinib vs apremilast (Otezla; Amgen) at weeks 16 and 24, along with nail psoriasis outcomes.^1,2

In a preview interview, Kircik discussed zasocitinib scalp psoriasis clearance rates.

Hand and Foot Skin Clearance With Zasocitinib

In the sub-analysis of the LATITUDE 3001 and LATITUDE 3002 phase 3 studies, patients with moderate to severe palmoplantar psoriasis showed high rates of skin clearance with zasocitinib treatment, Kircik said. At week 16, around 69% to 71% of patients achieved clear or almost clear hands and feet, with results maintained at week 24, when rates ranged from 70% to 74%.

Apremilast produced lower response rates by comparison, around 42% to 44% at week 16, then diverging between studies at week 24, dropping to 22% in one study and rising to 51% in the other. Kircik framed this variability against the more consistent response pattern seen with zasocitinib across both trials.

"Hand and foot psoriasis is a very, very difficult area to treat, and despite that, zasocitinib did pretty well," Kircik said.

"Zasocitinib did show statistically significant superiority not only to the placebo but also to apremilast," he added.

Nail Psoriasis Response Rates

Nail involvement also responded to treatment, Kircik said, though nail growth requires more time than resolution of inflammation. At week 16, Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) scores improved by about 7 points in one study and 8.6 points in the other, compared with 6 to 7 points for apremilast. By week 24, patients treated with zasocitinib showed NAPSI improvements of about 12 points and 10 points across the 2 studies, versus 7.8 and 9.2 points for apremilast.

"The NAPSI results are pretty impressive in zasocitinib study as well," Kircik said.

Kircik noted nail improvement depends on new nail growth, a process taking longer than resolution of surface inflammation, even as NAPSI scores continued improving from week 16 to week 24 in both zasocitinib studies.

References

1. Takeda's zasocitinib demonstrates consistent, high rates of skin clearance across the body, including hard-to-treat and high-impact sites, in phase 3 psoriasis studies. News release. Takeda. July 16, 2026. Accessed August 6, 2026. https://www.takeda.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2026/zasocitinib-phase-3-psoriasis-skin-clearance/
2. Armstrong AW, et al. Zasocitinib, a once-daily oral TYK2 inhibitor, demonstrates efficacy at high impact sites in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results from two randomized phase 3 trials (LATITUDE-PsO-3001 and 3002). Presented at: 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Innovation Academy; July 16, 2026; New York, NY.