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PsoriasisJanuary 2025Summary reviewed June 2026

A Daily Pill Kept Psoriasis Cleared for 3 Years Without Worsening Side Effects

Researchers tested deucravacitinib, a daily pill, in over 1,500 people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis for up to three years. The treatment kept working without increasing side effects over time, and most common issues were mild infections like colds.

What the trial was testing

The POETYK enrolled 1,020 patients with psoriasis. The study was sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.

What the results showed

Safety problems stayed low or decreased over three years of continuous treatment.

JAMA dermatology · 2025 · NCT03611751

These findings — that the treatment kept clearing skin without worsening side effects over long-term use — were published in the JAMA dermatology and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 1,020 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with psoriasis, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

Deucravacitinib is FDA-approved for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis under the brand name Sotyktu. It's a once-daily pill that worked consistently over three years in these studies. Talk to your dermatologist about whether this treatment might be right for you.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.