Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

07:42
Assessment of Resistance to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors by an Interrogation of Signal Transduction Pathways by Antibody Arrays
Published on: September 19, 2018
Zasocitinib: New Frontier in Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibition.
Samantha R Adam1, Maxwell Sauder2,3
1Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
Skin Therapy Letter
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Zasocitinib, a selective tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, shows promise for treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Its higher selectivity may offer improved safety compared to other TYK2 inhibitors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are chronic inflammatory conditions.
- Current treatments include biologics and small molecules targeting inflammatory pathways.
- Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a key mediator in inflammatory signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of zasocitinib.
- To compare zasocitinib's properties with existing TYK2 inhibitors like deucravacitinib.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical and clinical data on zasocitinib.
- Comparative analysis of TYK2 inhibitor selectivity and affinity.
- Assessment of potential off-target effects based on molecular structure and inhibition profiles.
Main Results:
- Zasocitinib demonstrates high selectivity for the TYK2 Janus homology 2 (JH2) domain.
- It exhibits higher target affinity compared to deucravacitinib.
- Minimal inhibition of Janus kinases (JAK) 1, 2, and 3 is anticipated, suggesting reduced off-target effects.
Conclusions:
- Zasocitinib represents a novel, highly selective TYK2 inhibitor.
- Its distinct selectivity profile may translate to a favorable safety and tolerability profile for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
- Further clinical evaluation is warranted to confirm its therapeutic potential.
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