Takeda’s oral TYK2 inhibitor zasocitinib (TAK‑279) achieved superior skin clearance versus deucravacitinib in the Phase 3 LATITUDE Atlas trial, reinforcing its potential as a next‑generation oral therapy for plaque psoriasis with rapid onset, durable efficacy, and favorable safety.
Written By: Farha Farheen, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Takeda has reported positive topline results from the Phase 3 LATITUDE Atlas trial, showing that its investigational once-daily oral TYK2 inhibitor zasocitinib (TAK-279) achieved statistically superior efficacy compared with Bristol Myers Squibb’s deucravacitinib in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The randomized, multicenter, double-blind study enrolled 606 patients and directly compared once-daily zasocitinib 30 mg with once-daily deucravacitinib 6 mg.
Primary and Secondary Endpoints
Zasocitinib demonstrated superiority for the primary endpoint of complete skin clearance, measured by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 100 response at week 16. More than 35% of patients achieved PASI 100, representing more than 2.5 times the response rate observed with deucravacitinib.
The therapy also demonstrated statistical superiority across all key secondary endpoints, including PASI 90 response and Static Physician’s Global Assessment (sPGA) 0 at week 16. Treatment curves began separating as early as week 8, indicating a rapid onset of clinical benefit.
Clinical Significance
Plaque psoriasis affects an estimated 64 million people worldwide and is characterized by persistent inflammatory skin lesions that can substantially impair quality of life. Despite major advances in biologic therapies, many patients continue to seek oral treatment options capable of delivering high levels of skin clearance without injections.
Linda Stein Gold, MD, Director of Dermatology Clinical Research at Henry Ford Health and principal investigator of the LATITUDE Atlas study, said the findings highlight clinically meaningful differences among oral treatment options and support the potential for higher expectations regarding skin clearance with oral therapies.
Mechanistic Rationale
Zasocitinib is a next-generation oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor that selectively targets inflammatory pathways central to psoriasis pathogenesis, including IL-23 and type I interferon signaling. By maintaining continuous inhibition of these disease-driving pathways, the therapy has shown the potential to deliver rapid and durable disease control.
According to Takeda, preclinical studies demonstrated more than one-million-fold selectivity for TYK2 compared with other members of the JAK family. This high degree of selectivity may allow potent TYK2 inhibition while minimizing effects on JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3 signaling.
Safety Profile
Zasocitinib was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with previous clinical studies. Investigators reported no new safety signals, supporting the therapy’s benefit-risk profile as it advances toward potential regulatory review.
Regulatory Path Forward
Chinwe Ukomadu, MD, PhD, Head of Takeda’s Gastrointestinal and Inflammation Therapeutic Area Unit, said the results reinforce the potential of zasocitinib to deliver rapid and durable skin clearance in a convenient once-daily oral formulation.
The LATITUDE Atlas trial (NCT06973291) is part of Takeda’s broader Phase 3 psoriasis development program. The company plans to present detailed findings at upcoming medical congresses and remains on track to begin regulatory submissions for plaque psoriasis with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other global health authorities during the current fiscal year.
Pipeline Expansion
Beyond plaque psoriasis, Takeda is evaluating zasocitinib in Phase 3 studies for psoriatic arthritis and Phase 2 trials in Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, vitiligo, and hidradenitis suppurativa. The broader development program reflects growing interest in selective TYK2 inhibition as a potential treatment approach across multiple immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
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About the Writer
Farha Farheen, PharmD (LinkedIn) is a pharmacy professional with a strong interest in pharmacovigilance and clinical research. She has completed her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) along with her internship as a Clinical Pharmacist. She has hands-on experience in adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting, safety data documentation, and pharmacovigilance workflows, and is proficient in using VigiFlow. She is also a patent holder for an antibacterial formulation enriched with bioactive substances, granted by the German Patent and Trademark Office.