China approves J&J psoriasis pill Icotyde, says drugmaker (updated)

Johnson & Johnson

27/08/2026 10:38

Updates with brand name in paragraph 3 and J&J not available to comment in paragraph 4
SHANGHAI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - China's drug regulator has approved Johnson & Johnson's JNJ.N oral pill for psoriasis, ​the company said on Thursday, intensifying competition in the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market with rivals including Bristol Myers Squibb BMY.N and AbbVie ABBV.N.
Psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes itchy, scaly, and inflamed patches of skin, affects more than 8.4 million patients in China, according to J&J. Other treatments include its own Tremfya, Bristol Myers' Sotyktu and AbbVie's Skyrizi.

        Wall ​Street analysts have said J&J's drug, Icotyde, has "blockbuster potential" as a safe and effective oral medication and that the once-daily medication could capture significant market share from injectables, such as Skyrizi and ​Tremfya.
It was approved in China for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, J&J said in a statement. Asked about availability, pricing and sales expectations for the local market, a spokesperson referred Reuters to the statement.

        Other drugmakers including China's Innocare Pharma 688428.SS and Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical 4502.T are also developing experimental oral treatments in a global market largely dominated by injectables. 

 (Reporting by Andrew Silver in Shanghai
Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Louise Heavens)
 ((andrew.silver@thomsonreuters.com))