J&J Icotrokinra Oral IL-23R Peptide EU Approval, Celldex Barzolvolimab Phase 3 CSU Win, Viking VK2735 Maintenance Data

The European Commission approved Johnson & Johnson's ICOTYDE (icotrokinra), which J&J describes as the first targeted oral peptide that blocks the IL-23 receptor, for adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis; the peptide was discovered with Protagonist Therapeutics. Celldex reported that barzolvolimab, an anti-KIT antibody, met the primary endpoint in both Phase 3 EMBARQ trials in chronic spontaneous urticaria, with complete response rates of 42-46% at week 12 against 9-13% on placebo. Viking's VK2735 maintenance study tested whether people can step down from weekly dosing: after 21 weeks of weekly induction, every-other-week dosing kept up to 97% of the weight lost and monthly dosing up to 90%, against 61% on placebo. NewAmsterdam Pharma and Menarini received the first approval anywhere for obicetrapib, and PTC Therapeutics closed its purchase of Sangamo's Fabry gene therapy ST-920. Novo's shares fell about 8% on Monday after its Capital Markets Day, and BMO's Evan Seigerman wrote that the peer-level growth target looked already priced in. Correction (September 23, 2026): This digest was revised to remove claims that could not be traced to a primary source and to replace general source links with specific ones. Removed items include an unsupported year-to-date decline figure for Novo (previously given as close to 25%) and an unsupported additional Tuesday decline, a claim that Morgan Stanley held the most bearish Novo rating, market-size and patient-population estimates, and a statement that competing obesity drugs support only weekly maintenance.