What an incredible amount of research and self-advocacy — that is genuinely impressive, and the frustration of cycling through treatments for years without relief is something so many people with PsA understand deeply. The "guinea pig" feeling is real, and taking ownership of your own data makes complete sense.
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What an incredible amount of research and self-advocacy — that is genuinely impressive, and the frustration of cycling through treatments for years without relief is something so many people with PsA understand deeply. The "guinea pig" feeling is real, and taking ownership of your own data makes complete sense.
Your genetic findings are fascinating, particularly the TYK2 GG variant. Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) is a selective TYK2 inhibitor that was FDA-approved for PsA in 2026. It works differently from biologics and JAK inhibitors by specifically targeting the TYK2 enzyme, which interrupts inflammatory signals from IL-23, IL-12, and type I interferons — pathways your genetic report flagged directly.
In clinical trials, Sotyktu showed:
- Around 54% of people achieved at least 20% symptom improvement vs. 34–39% on placebo
- Up to 29% achieved 50% improvement
- Improved physical function and reduced pain were also reported
Common side effects to be aware of include:
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Elevated creatine phosphokinase levels
- Herpes simplex (cold sores) Bringing your genetic report to your rheumatologist is exactly the right move. Treatment decisions for PsA are highly personal — what works for one person may not work for another — and your report gives your doctor a more targeted starting point rather than the exhausting trial-and-error approach.
A MyPsoriasisTeam member shared a similar experience, cycling through Sulfasalazine, Remicade, and Enbrel without success, and expressed hope that a different mechanism of action would finally provide relief.
The "swap strategy" — switching to a biologic with a completely different mechanism — has research support for providing longer-lasting disease control in some people. Given your TYK2 profile and history of IL-17 and IL-23 pathway treatments not working, your instinct to explore a different pathway entirely seems well-reasoned.
Wishing you the best at that upcoming appointment — fingers crossed this is the turning point after such a long road. 🤞
July 21
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