Sotyktu (Deucravacitinib) for Psoriasis

Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

How Sotyktu Works and How It’s Taken

Sotyktu is a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor. TYK2 is a protein involved in immune system signals.

By blocking TYK2, Sotyktu may help reduce inflammation and overactive immune activity that drive skin symptoms in plaque psoriasis. The exact way it works is not fully known.

Doctors prescribe Sotyktu when adults have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and may benefit from systemic therapy or phototherapy. Systemic therapy works throughout the body. Phototherapy uses ultraviolet light to treat psoriasis.

Sotyktu comes as a tablet taken by mouth. Do not crush, cut, or chew the tablet.

Typical Dosing for Psoriasis

The recommended dose of Sotyktu for psoriasis is 6 milligrams by mouth once daily, with or without food.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Sotyktu Side Effects

In clinical studies of Sotyktu for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults, the most common side effects occurred in about 1 percent to 19 percent of people. These include:

Upper respiratory infections (such as the common cold, sore throat, or sinus infection)
Increased blood creatine phosphokinase (CPK) (a lab change that can be linked to muscle injury)
Herpes simplex (such as cold sores)
Mouth ulcers (such as canker sores)
Folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles)
Acne

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Sotyktu can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Hypersensitivity reactions — Serious allergic reactions, including angioedema, can cause swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat and trouble breathing.
Serious infections — Because Sotyktu affects the immune system, it can raise the risk of infections such as pneumonia, COVID-19, and tuberculosis.
Viral reactivation — Certain viruses can become active again, including herpes zoster, also called shingles, and herpes simplex.
Malignancies — Cancers, including lymphomas, have been reported in people taking Sotyktu.
Rhabdomyolysis and muscle injury — This serious muscle problem can occur with very high CPK levels and may cause muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

How To Save on Sotyktu

Bristol Myers Squibb, the manufacturer of Sotyktu, offers the Co-Pay Assistance Program. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0 per month for Sotyktu.

The Co-Pay Assistance Program is part of Sotyktu 360 Support, which offers personalized support, educational resources, savings information, and ongoing treatment support.

To learn more, visit the Co-Pay Assistance Program website, or call 888-768-9588.

What To Know Before Taking Sotyktu

Before starting Sotyktu, your doctor will check for active and latent (hidden) tuberculosis (TB).

Make sure your vaccines are up to date before treatment, including the shingles vaccine when appropriate. Avoid live vaccines while taking Sotyktu.

Do not take Sotyktu if you have had a serious allergic reaction to deucravacitinib or any ingredient in Sotyktu.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Before starting Sotyktu, tell your doctor if you:

Are being treated for an infection
Have an infection that does not go away or keeps coming back
Have tuberculosis or have been close to someone with tuberculosis
Have or have had hepatitis B or hepatitis C
Think you have an infection or have symptoms of one
Have liver or kidney problems
Have diabetes
Have high triglyceride levels
Recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine
Have ever had cancer

Do not use Sotyktu if you have an active, serious infection. If you have another infection, do not start treatment unless your healthcare provider says it is OK. Sotyktu may increase your risk of shingles.

Sotyktu is also FDA-approved to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Sotyktu, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Sotyktu for plaque psoriasis?

In two studies of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, 53 percent to 58 percent of people taking Sotyktu had at least a 75 percent improvement in psoriasis severity by week 16. This compared with 9 percent to 13 percent of people taking a placebo (an inactive treatment).

By week 16, 50 percent to 54 percent of people taking Sotyktu had skin rated clear or almost clear. This compared with 7 percent to 9 percent of people taking a placebo.

Among people who responded by week 24 and continued taking Sotyktu, 70 percent to 78 percent still had clear or almost clear skin at week 52.

How long does Sotyktu take to work for psoriasis?

The main psoriasis study results were measured at week 16. By then, 53 percent to 58 percent of people taking Sotyktu had at least a 75 percent improvement in psoriasis severity, and 50 percent to 54 percent had skin rated clear or almost clear.

The studies also measured how well responses lasted through weeks 24 and 52.

What tests or monitoring are needed with Sotyktu for psoriasis?

Before starting Sotyktu, your healthcare provider should check for active and hidden TB. Vaccines should also be brought up to date.

During treatment, triglyceride levels should be checked from time to time. In people with known or suspected liver disease, liver enzymes should be checked before and during treatment.

Your doctor may also order other blood tests based on your symptoms and medical history.