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PHOENIX - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) reported on Monday that its experimental oral drug icotrokinra demonstrated sustained clinical benefits through 28 weeks in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, according to results from its Phase 2b ANTHEM-UC study.
The once-daily oral peptide, which blocks the IL-23 receptor, showed higher rates of clinical response, clinical remission, and endoscopic improvement compared to placebo. At the 400 mg dose, 31.7% of patients achieved clinical remission and 38.1% showed endoscopic improvement at Week 28, versus 9.5% and 11.1% for placebo, respectively.
These findings build upon 12-week data presented earlier at the United European Gastroenterology Week 2025. The safety profile remained favorable, with similar rates of adverse events across treatment and placebo groups through the 28-week period. With trailing twelve-month revenues of $92.15 billion and a strong dividend track record spanning 55 consecutive years, Johnson & Johnson continues to demonstrate its market leadership. InvestingPro subscribers can access 12+ additional insights about JNJ’s financial performance and market position.
"These exciting results show how we are harnessing our deep understanding of the IL-23 pathway to advance innovative treatments for inflammatory bowel disease that address the daily needs of patients," said Esi Lamousé-Smith, Vice President at Johnson & Johnson, in the press release.
Based on these results, the company has initiated Phase 3 trials in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The drug is also being studied for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, with a New Drug Application already submitted to the FDA in July 2025 for the psoriasis indication.
Icotrokinra is described as the first targeted oral peptide designed to precisely block the IL-23 receptor, which plays a key role in inflammatory diseases. The drug was jointly discovered by Johnson & Johnson and Protagonist Therapeutics under a collaboration agreement established in 2017.
In other recent news, Johnson & Johnson reported robust earnings for the third quarter, surpassing both analyst expectations and market consensus. This strong performance led the company to raise its revenue guidance for the third time this year, while maintaining its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) projection. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya treatment showed promising results in Crohn’s disease, achieving high rates of clinical and endoscopic remission at 96 weeks in Phase 3 studies. The company’s investigational oral psoriasis treatment, icotrokinra, also demonstrated significant skin clearance in challenging areas over 52 weeks. Meanwhile, Freedom Capital Markets downgraded Johnson & Johnson’s stock rating from Buy to Hold, although it raised the price target to $190.00, reflecting the company’s strong quarterly performance. Guggenheim reiterated its Buy rating with a $206.00 price target, following positive trial results for a cancer treatment. Furthermore, Leerink Partners increased its price target to $201, citing a strong outlook, while maintaining a Market Perform rating. These developments highlight Johnson & Johnson’s ongoing advancements in both financial performance and pharmaceutical research.
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