Icotrokinra Shows High Efficacy and Safety in Treating Adolescent Psoriasis: Study

A new subgroup analysis reveals that adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with once-daily icotrokinra (JNJ-2113) achieved significantly higher skin clearance at 16 weeks compared to placebo. Notably, 84.1% reached IGA 0/1 and 70.5% attained PASI 90. No new safety concerns emerged, supporting the drug’s efficacy and safety in both adolescents and adults.

 Icotrokinra is a first-in-class investigational targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the IL-23 receptor and is being studied in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe plaque PsO.

In the study, 84.1% of adolescent patients treated with once daily icotrokinra achieved an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA)b score of 0/1 (clear or almost clear skin) and 70.5% achieved a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)c 90 response, compared to 27.3% and 13.6% receiving placebo, respectively, at Week 16.

Response rates continued to improve through Week 24 where 86.4% of adolescents achieved IGA 0/1 (clear or almost clear skin) and 88.6% achieved PASI 90.1 Further, at Week 24, 75% of adolescents achieved IGA 0 (completely clear skin) and 63.6% achieved PASI 100.

“Data from the Phase 3 ICONIC LEAD subgroup analysis demonstrate impressive efficacy rates, showing the promise of this novel therapeutic option in the treatment of adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who’ve often not yet received an advanced therapy,” said Lawrence Eichenfield, M.D., Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, and Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine (Dermatology), at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, ICONIC-LEAD presenter.d “Young patients with plaque psoriasis face unique challenges due to the visible and uncomfortable nature of the disease, making effective treatment options that align with their needs and preferences all the more important.”

Icotrokinra demonstrated a favorable safety profile. At Week 16, 50% of adolescents treated with icotrokinra experienced ≥1 adverse event (AE), compared to 73% of adolescents receiving placebo, with no new safety signals identified.

“Adolescents living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis shouldn’t have to wait for effective treatments options that have the potential to deliver completely clear skin, which is the driving force for studying this younger population as part of the pivotal ICONIC program,” said Liza O’Dowd, Vice President, Immunodermatology Disease Area Lead, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. “These data underscore the promise of next-generation therapies and the potential for icotrokinra to offer adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis the unique combination of a favorable safety profile and complete skin clearance in a once-daily pill.”

About Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic immune-mediated disease resulting in overproduction of skin cells, which causes inflamed, scaly plaques that may be itchy or painful.9 It is estimated that 8 million Americans and more than 125 million people worldwide live with the disease.10 Nearly one-quarter of all people with plaque PsO have cases that are considered moderate to severe.11 On Caucasian skin, plaques typically appear as raised, red patches covered with a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells or scale.11 On skin of color, the plaques may appear darker and thicker and more of a purple, gray or dark brown color.12 Plaques can appear anywhere on the body, although they most often appear on the scalp, knees, elbows, and torso.12 Living with plaque PsO can be a challenge and impact life beyond a person’s physical health, including emotional health, relationships, and handling the stressors of life.12 Psoriasis on highly visible areas of the body or sensitive skin, such as the scalp, hands, feet, and genitals, can have an increased negative impact on quality of life.12,13

About Icotrokinra (JNJ-77242113, JNJ-2113)

Investigational icotrokinra is the first targeted oral peptide designed to selectively block the IL-23 receptor,14 which underpins the inflammatory response in moderate-to-severe plaque PsO, ulcerative colitis and offers potential in other IL-23-mediated diseases.15,16 Icotrokinra binds to the IL-23 receptor with single-digit picomolar affinity and demonstrated potent, selective inhibition of IL-23 signaling in human T cells.17 The license and collaboration agreement established between Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. and Janssen Biotech, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, in 2017 enabled the companies to work together to discover and develop next-generation compounds that ultimately led to icotrokinra.18

Icotrokinra was jointly discovered and is being developed pursuant to the license and collaboration agreement between Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson retains exclusive worldwide rights to develop icotrokinra in Phase 2 clinical trials and beyond, and to commercialize compounds derived from the research conducted pursuant to the agreement against a broad range of indications.19,20,21

Icotrokinra is being studied in the pivotal Phase 3 ICONIC clinical development program in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis and the Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

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Creatinine has key role in Predicting Hyperuricemia in Breast Cancer Patients: Study

According to a new study Creatinine emerged as the most significant factor linked to hyperuricemia in breast cancer patients. It was independently associated with the condition and demonstrated strong predictive performance.

A study was done to explore the factors influencing hyperuricemia in breast cancer patients based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. The univariate and multivariate generalized linear regression were used to screen the influencing factors of hyperuricemia. Logistic and XGBoost algorithms were used to rank the importance of influencing factors. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) curves were used to assess the predictive performance and clinical benefit. Trend analysis, Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and generalized additive model were used to explore the relationship between key factor and hyperuricemia. Results: A total of 359 patients with breast cancer were included, of whom 99 patients had hyperuricemia. Among all variables collected, BMI, total calcium, creatinine, hypertension, and gout were found as independent factors of hyperuricemia (all p < 0.05). Among them, Both the 2 algorithms indicated that importance of creatinine on hyperuricemia ranked first. Further, BMI and creatinine levels had higher area under the curve than other variables (BMI: 0.626 [95%CI: 0.574-0.685]; creatinine: 0.722 [95%CI: 0.674-0.777]), but prediction performance difference between them was insignificant (P for Delong test = 0.051). DCA next indicated that creatinine achieved better clinical net benefit than BMI. Further, a detailed positive association between creatinine and hyperuricemia was determined (P for trend<0.001), with a linear relationship (P for non-linear = 0.428). Creatinine was identified as the most important factor of hyperuricemia in breast cancer patients, as it had independent association with hyperuricemia and favorable prediction performance.

Reference:

Meng TT, Wang WR, Zheng YQ, Liu GD. Key factors determination of hyperuricemia and association analysis among patients with breast cancer: results from NHANES data. Front Nutr. 2025 Mar 26;12:1535879. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1535879. PMID: 40206955; PMCID: PMC11978644.

Keywords:

Creatinine, key role, Predicting, Hyperuricemia, Breast Cancer, Patients, Study, NHANES; breast cancer; creatinine; hyperuricemia; influencing factors, Meng TT, Wang WR, Zheng YQ, Liu GD

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High Inflammatory Index Linked to Poor Outcomes in Heart Patients with Sleep Apnea: Study

China: A new prospective cohort study from Beijing Anzhen Hospital has found that elevated systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) significantly increases the risk of major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications in individuals diagnosed with both acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study, published in the Journal of Inflammation Research, was led by Qian He and colleagues from the Center for Coronary Artery Disease, Capital Medical University.

The research sought to assess whether SIRI—a biomarker derived from neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts—could serve as a reliable predictor of long-term adverse cardiovascular events in this high-risk population. SIRI reflects the degree of systemic inflammation, which is known to play a critical role in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease progression.

The study included a total of 1,011 patients diagnosed with ACS and OSA, between June 2015 and January 2020. SIRI levels were measured upon hospital admission, and based on an optimal cutoff value of ≥1.16 × 10⁹/L derived from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, patients were divided into high and low SIRI groups.

The following were the key findings of the study:

  • Over a median follow-up period of 2.8 years, 179 patients experienced major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, stroke, or ischemia-driven revascularization.
  • Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher incidence of MACCE in the high SIRI group.
  • After adjusting for clinical confounders, high SIRI levels were independently associated with a 44% increased risk of MACCE (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.44).

The study further emphasized that SIRI’s prognostic power goes beyond traditional OSA severity indicators such as the apnea-hypopnea index. The biomarker offers a more comprehensive view of immune activation and systemic inflammation, which could explain its strong association with cardiovascular outcomes.

However, the authors acknowledge several limitations. The study was conducted at a single center, and the diagnosis of OSA was based on portable polygraphy, which may underestimate its severity. Moreover, the lack of post-discharge data on OSA treatment adherence and seasonal variability in blood sample timing could affect the findings. Patients with recent infections or corticosteroid therapy were also not excluded, introducing potential selection bias.

Despite these limitations, the study presents compelling evidence that SIRI could serve as a valuable tool for identifying high-risk patients with ACS and OSA. The researchers call for future investigations to evaluate whether interventions guided by SIRI measurements can help reduce cardiovascular events in this vulnerable group.

Reference:

He Q, Zhou Y, Tong X, Zhen L, Shi S, Gong W, Nie S. Prognostic Value of the Systemic Inflammatory Response Index in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. J Inflamm Res. 2025;18:7515-7527. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S515437

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RNT Doctor Death Case: Postmortem discrepancies spark hunger strike by Resident Doctors

Udaipur: Following the tragic death of Dr Ravi Sharma at the postgraduate hostel of Ravindranath Tagore (RNT) Medical College, Udaipur, resident doctors have escalated their protests, demanding justice, accountability, and announcing a hunger strike. This comes after a serious discrepancy between two postmortem reports surfaced, raising concerns about a possible cover-up on the matter. 

Two separate postmortems were conducted – one by a team from RNT Medical College and another by SMS Medical College in Jaipur – both revealed different conclusions. The first postmortem, carried out by a team at RNT Medical College, noted only superficial injuries. The report mentioned marks of abrasions on Dr. Ravi Sharma’s body and an injury on the back of his head “caused by electric shock,” but did not clearly state electrocution as the cause of death. Investigators collected a sample of normal skin and sent it to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis.

Also read- Tragic: Doctor electrocuted to death at RNT College Hostel

Dissatisfied with the initial findings, resident doctors asked for a second opinion. A team from SMS Medical College in Jaipur, led by Dr. Deepali Pathak and including specialists in plastic surgery, pathology, and another forensic expert, re-examined the body. Their report confirmed electrocution as the cause of death, noting three distinct electric injuries. They also sent a sample from the exact area where the current passed to the FSL, though they pointed out that no such samples had been taken in the first postmortem, reports TOI. 

Despite the confirmation of electrocution by SMS Medical College, RNT authorities have not yet officially acknowledged it as the cause of death. This lack of response has further angered resident doctors, who allege that the administration is attempting to cover up the real cause of death.

In protest, resident doctors from RNT Medical College have announced a hunger strike, intensifying their ongoing agitation that started on June 18, the day Dr Ravi died. 

Dr. Tejpal, Udaipur Resident Doctors Association (URDA) media coordinator, told IANS, “I would like to inform all the people of Rajasthan, especially our healthcare workers and the administration, that as you all know, Dr. Ravi passed away due to administrative negligence. Since then, our movement to get him justice is ongoing. Even after giving an ultimatum, there has been no positive response or action from the administration. In this process, we have raised this issue repeatedly to demand justice…”

Medical dialogues had reported that a 35-year-old doctor was allegedly electrocuted while taking water from a cooler at the postgraduate hostel of Ravindranath Tagore (RNT) Medical College in Udaipur, who was about to join the Maharana Bhupal Government Hospital.  Despite giving immediate CPR and rushing him to the hospital, the doctor could not be revived and was pronounced dead. The deceased, Dr Ravi Sharma, arrived in Udaipur recently ahead of his scheduled joining at the hospital. He was staying with his cousin, also a doctor, in the college PG hostel.

His sudden death led to widespread anger among resident doctors and students at the institution, who ceased their work and launched a protest on campus on Thursday, raising slogans and demanding the resignation of college officials – the principal and hostel warden.

Resident doctors at RNT Medical College are deeply upset over how the death of Dr. Ravi Sharma has been handled. They believe the first postmortem report, done by their own college, did not give a clear reason for his death. Although the report mentioned injuries that looked like they were caused by electric shock, it did not confirm that electrocution was the cause. The doctors feel this is a serious mistake and an attempt to hide the truth. They believe this delay and confusion could stop the family from getting proper justice and compensation.

Since June 18, resident doctors at RNT Medical College have been boycotting all non-emergency services. Their protest has gained support from the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD) and resident doctors from SN Medical College, Jodhpur, who have been observing a daily two-hour pen-down strike from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

According to a report by Bhaskar, over 600 resident doctors across all hospitals affiliated with RNT Medical College held a strike for four consecutive days, accusing the college administration of hiding the truth and tampering with evidence. The residents say they will continue the strike until there is action against the administration. They want the truth about Dr Ravi Sharma’s death to come out and those responsible to be punished.

Starting Wednesday, resident doctors at SP Medical College in Bikaner and Government Medical College in Kota will join their Udaipur colleagues in a full strike. All outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) services, as well as emergency care and operations, will remain suspended until their demands are met. They said the strike would be observed to demand compensation for the family of the resident doctor

Speaking to TOI, Dr Bharat Pareek, President of JARD, Rajasthan, said, “The tragic death of Dr Ravi Sharma shook the state’s medical fraternity. The State Human Rights Commission has sought an explanation from principals of RNT Medical College and SMS Medical College, Jaipur.”

Raising concerns about the discrepancies in the postmortem report, a delegation from JARD met medical education secretary Ambrish Kumar on Tuesday to demand suspension of officials responsible for Dr Sharma’s death, financial compensation, and a judicial inquiry into the discrepancies in the postmortem reports.

Dr Prashant Sharma, the cousin of the deceased, claimed that Ravi died from an electric shock caused by a faulty water cooler in the hostel. He said the first report by RNT is misleading and hides the truth. He accused the medical college of tampering with samples to protect the administration. He added, “If an educated doctor can die like this without justice, what must be happening to ordinary people? I feel dead inside. This is a failure of the system.”

Also read- Twin Tragedy rocks Rajasthan: Suicide, Electrocution of young doctors sparks statewide outrage

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Tripura: 25-year-old woman during Treatment, medical negligence alleged

Agartala: In a tragic incident, a 25-year-old woman allegedly lost her life on Monday while undergoing treatment at Janapriya Medical Hall in Teliamura, sparking widespread public outrage and raising serious concerns about alleged medical negligence at the facility.

According to news reports, the deceased, a young mother, had visited a medical hall complaining of back pain. She was reportedly attended by a doctor who informed her that fluid needed to be urgently drained from her lungs.

For more information, click on the link below:

Tripura: 25-year-old woman during Treatment, medical negligence alleged

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NEET 2025: NTA Opposes Re-Exam Plea, Claims Power Outage did not impact performance

Indore: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has submitted that the one-hour power outage during the National Eligibility-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2025 examination at the examination centres in Indore did not affect the performance of the candidates, who had approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking relief.

Filing pleas before the HC bench, medical aspirants alleged that the power outage at the NEET exam centres across Indore affected their performance, and they had to complete their NEET UG 2025 exam using emergency lamps or candles.

For more information, click on the link below:

NEET 2025: NTA Opposes Re-Exam Plea, Says Performance Not Affected due to Power Outage

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One in five packaged foods and drinks sold in the US contains synthetic dyes, study shows

As many as 19% of packaged foods and beverages sold by top US food manufacturers contain synthetic food dyes, according to new research evaluating the content of 39,763 American grocery store products.

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Global study links severe bleeding after childbirth to increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Women who experience severe bleeding after giving birth face elevated risks to their cardiovascular health that can persist for up to 15 years—a new analysis of data from over 9.7 million women across Europe, North America and Asia shows.

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New ‘designer drugs’ pose growing threat to road safety in the US

No one could claim to be unaware of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID): drugs can increase the time needed to react, impair coordination, alertness, and cognition, and lower inhibitions, thus encouraging reckless and aggressive driving.

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Emotional demands and confrontation in person-contact roles linked to heightened type 2 diabetes risk

The emotional demands and confrontation inherent in person-contact roles, involving direct face-to-face or voice-to-voice interaction with external parties, are linked to a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes, suggests research published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

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