Takeda’s Zasocitinib Significantly Outperforms Deucravacitinib in Head-to-Head Phase 3 Psoriasis Study
On June 11, 2026, Takeda Pharmaceutical announced positive topline results from its Phase 3 LATITUDE Atlas (TAK-279-PsO-3004) head-to-head clinical trial. The study demonstrated that zasocitinib (TAK-279)—an investigational, next-generation, highly selective oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor—significantly outperformed Bristol Myers Squibb's blockbuster TYK2 inhibitor Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) across all primary and key secondary endpoints in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
The LATITUDE Atlas trial enrolled 606 participants randomized to receive either once-daily oral zasocitinib (30 mg) or deucravacitinib (6 mg) up to Week 16. Key findings include:
- Superior Complete Skin Clearance (Primary Endpoint): More than 35% of zasocitinib-treated patients achieved complete skin clearance, defined as a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 100 response, at Week 16. This is more than 2.5 times the response rate achieved by deucravacitinib.
- Secondary Endpoints Met: Zasocitinib demonstrated statistical superiority over deucravacitinib in achieving PASI 90 (near-complete clearance) and a Static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) score of 0 (clear) at Week 16.
- Rapid Onset: Statistically significant separation between the zasocitinib and deucravacitinib treatment curves emerged as early as Week 8.
- Safety Profile: Zasocitinib was generally well tolerated, with a safety and tolerability profile consistent with previous clinical trials and no new safety signals identified.
Takeda plans to present detailed data at upcoming medical congresses and is on track to begin submitting a New Drug Application (NDA) for plaque psoriasis to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other global regulatory authorities starting this fiscal year. Zasocitinib is also undergoing Phase 3 trials in psoriatic arthritis and Phase 2 trials in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, vitiligo, and hidradenitis suppurativa.