Dong-A ST Co., Ltd. (President and CEO Jae-hoon Jeong, KRX: 170900) announced today that it presented preclinical research findings demonstrating the potential of a topical formulation of icotrokinra at AAPS PharmSci 360 2026, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from October 25 to 28.

Organized by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), AAPS PharmSci 360 is a premier international scientific conference bringing together biotechnology researchers, academic scientists, regulatory experts, and pharmaceutical R&D leaders to exchange advances in drug discovery and pharmaceutical sciences.

At the conference, Hae-sun Kim, Principal Scientist on Dong-A ST’s Drug Delivery System (DDS) team, presented a scientific poster titled: “Development of a Topical Icotrokinra Formulation for the Treatment of Psoriasis.” The study focused on engineering a targeted formulation capable of delivering icotrokinra directly through the skin barrier.

Icotrokinra is a first-in-class oral macrocyclic peptide that selectively antagonizes the interleukin-23 (IL-23) receptor, thereby inhibiting IL-23-mediated pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. An oral therapy containing icotrokinra as its active ingredient received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2026.

To evaluate the feasibility of converting icotrokinra into a topical therapeutic, Dong-A ST assessed the formulation’s ex vivo skin permeation and retention profiles, as well as its anti-inflammatory efficacy in animal models:

  • Ex Vivo Permeation: The assessment identified an optimized formulation capable of effectively penetrating and retaining icotrokinra within the targeted skin layers.

  • Cytokine Suppression: In animal models of induced skin inflammation, the topical formulation attenuated inflammatory responses and significantly reduced the gene expression of interleukin-17A (IL-17A), interleukin-17F (IL-17F), and interleukin-22 (IL-22)—key pro-inflammatory cytokines central to psoriasis pathogenesis.

These preclinical findings validate both the dermal delivery feasibility and localized anti-inflammatory potential of topical icotrokinra. While further studies are required to establish clinical safety and efficacy, the results support its continued advancement as a promising topical drug candidate.

Over the past decade, Dong-A ST has systematically strengthened its proprietary Drug Delivery System (DDS) platform, advancing a diverse array of dosage forms including transdermal patches, microneedles, and specialized topical formulations. Building on this technological base, the company plans to continuously develop innovative delivery approaches for broad therapeutic applications.

Meanwhile, the global market for inflammatory skin disease treatments continues to expand rapidly as therapeutic modalities diversify. According to Bank of America projections, oral icotrokinra alone could achieve peak annual sales of $4.5 billion. In the topical segment, non-steroidal therapies have demonstrated strong commercial momentum—Incyte’s topical JAK inhibitor Opzelura® generated approximately $678 million in 2025 sales, while Organon’s Vtama® recorded $128 million during the same period.

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