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Deucravacitinib is a targeted treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who qualify for systemic therapy or phototherapy. This medication selectively inhibits the tyrosine kinase 2 (Tyk2) protein, providing greater efficacy and a superior safety profile compared to other biological agents, particularly apremilast. Deucravacitinib may be administered orally once daily, which enhances patient compliance and improves treatment outcomes. This activity enhances clinician understanding of deucravacitinib by reviewing indications, mechanisms of action, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, drug-to-drug interactions, use in specific patient populations, dosage forms and strengths, administration methods, adverse event profiles, contraindications, and other critical factors such as patient counseling. Healthcare professionals must understand how to identify suitable candidates, establish realistic treatment goals, and select appropriate administration methods for deucravacitinib therapy. This activity also emphasizes detecting and managing adverse reactions promptly and promoting collaboration among the interprofessional healthcare team to improve patient outcomes. Objectives: Identify the common indications for deucravacitinib therapy. Assess deucravacitinib's mechanism of action. Implement appropriate monitoring protocols for patients receiving or candidates for deucravacitinib therapy, including screening for latent infections. Implement effective communication of the adverse drug reactions associated with deucravacitinib therapy amongst interdisciplinary healthcare team members to promote appropriate management. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Recommendations No clinical data is available for experience with deucravacitinib overdosage. If overdosage occurs in any patients, it is recommended to contact the Poison Help line for additional management of the condition according to the drug overdosage protocol. The elimination of deucravacitinib by treatment with hemodialysis was small in extent, up to 5.4% of the dosage per dialysis therapy, and therefore, limiting the use of hemodialysis in the treatment of overdosage or intoxication with deucravacitinib. Various studies using rate models have demonstrated no carcinogenicity was observed in male or female rats that administered deucravacitinib orally at doses up to 15 mg/kg/day, which is 51-fold higher than the MRHD as per AUC comparison.[3] In rats of the female gender, deucravacitinib had no effects on parameters of reproduction such as mating, fertility, or early development of the embryo at orally administered doses up to 50 mg/kg/day which is 171-fold higher than the MRHD, according to the comparison of AUC. In the male rat, deucravacitinib had no effects on mating, sperm morphology, fertility, or early embryonic parameters of their offspring at orally administered doses up to 50 mg/kg/day, which is 224 times higher than the MRHD according to a comparison of AUC.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disorder. The disease burden is equally distributed in both genders worldwide. This condition causes physical disfigurement, which has a profound psychosocial impact, leading to low self-esteem, stigmatization, and isolation. Additionally, it reduces the lifespan of patients due to associated comorbidities. The expensive and prolonged treatment imposes a substantial economic burden on the patient and healthcare system. The community needs safer and more effective treatment to address these issues. Deucravacitinib is a breakthrough in the targeted treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.[3] The interdisciplinary healthcare team must work together to ensure the therapeutic safety and efficacy of deucravacitinib. Clinicians prescribe deucravacitinib to the appropriate patients when they verbally consent to the treatment plan, set realistic treatment goals, and provide information about the potential adverse events of the drug therapy. An initial consultation is an excellent opportunity to develop a positive rapport with the patients, promoting a healthy mindset and mental well-being. The specialists can enhance the care of patients by offering invaluable input and leveraging their expertise. Pharmacists can verify the drug dosing and perform a drug interaction check. They can also provide information on drug storage at home. The pharmacist can recommend reading an FDA-approved patient "Medication Guide" before starting deucravacitinib therapy each time the prescription is renewed. Nurses can educate patients on the proper administration of drugs. They can also monitor adverse reactions, perform preliminary assessments of therapeutic effectiveness during follow-up visits, and verify the patient's compliance with the pharmacotherapy. Nurses and pharmacists must communicate openly with prescribing physicians to report or discuss any concerns related to deucravacitinib therapy or the patient's other drug regimen. Such collaborative, interdisciplinary healthcare team communication is necessary to optimize patient care.

Nurses can educate patients on the proper administration of drugs. They can also monitor adverse reactions, perform preliminary assessments of therapeutic effectiveness during follow-up visits, and verify the patient's compliance with the pharmacotherapy. Nurses and pharmacists must communicate openly with prescribing physicians to report or discuss any concerns related to deucravacitinib therapy or the patient's other drug regimen. Such collaborative, interdisciplinary healthcare team communication is necessary to optimize patient care. The patients are counseled to immediately seek professional assistance upon experiencing adverse reactions. Patients with plaque psoriasis often experience major depression with a sense of lost control over their medical condition and routine lives. The interprofessional healthcare team plays a crucial role in empowering the patients by promoting a perception of control and demonstrating comprehensive and collaborative efforts. This approach facilitates positive healthcare outcomes in the patients receiving deucravacitinib therapy.