The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for icotrokinra, marketed under the brand name ICOTYDE, as a new oral treatment for psoriasis. The drug was co-developed through a strategic collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and Protagonist Therapeutics, a biotech firm originating from the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) in Australia.
ICOTYDE marks a significant clinical milestone as a once-daily oral peptide, offering an alternative to the injectable biologics that currently dominate advanced psoriasis care. With an estimated 125 million people suffering from this chronic autoimmune condition worldwide, this oral therapy addresses a major unmet need for patients especially children who prefer a non-invasive, needle-free treatment regimen without compromising on efficacy or safety.
Beyond psoriasis, icotrokinra is undergoing further clinical assessments for potential use in treating psoriatic arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). This regulatory success highlights Australia’s growing role in global therapeutic innovation and paves the way for future oral medicines targeting immune-mediated conditions. Furthermore, Protagonist is working with Takeda Pharmaceutical to seek FDA approval for rusfertide, another peptide-based candidate aimed at treating polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer.