Johnson & Johnson has announced new findings from the U.S. segment of the global ENCOMPASS study, which evaluated both patient and healthcare provider perspectives on challenges and unmet needs in psoriasis care. The results were presented at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.
The ENCOMPASS study surveyed 400 adults, 200 adolescents with psoriasis, and 200 dermatology providers in the United States. The aim was to better understand patient profiles, measure disease burden, examine treatment preferences, and assess quality of life impacts using established tools such as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) for adults and its version for children (cDLQI).
The data showed that psoriasis significantly affects quality of life for many patients. Over half of adult respondents reported a “very large” or “extremely large” impact on their lives due to psoriasis, while 21% reported a moderate impact. Among adolescents aged 16-17 years, 71% reported a very large or extremely large impact; this figure rose to 77% among those aged 12-15 years.
Factors most influencing perceived disease burden included skin symptoms, severity of condition, lesion location, lack of effective treatments, limitations on social activities, and effects on mental health.
“Psoriasis is much more than skin deep — among its far-reaching effects are a significant disease burden. We see it disrupt sleep and affect mental health which has a profound impact on the quality of life of patients,” said Linda Stein Gold, M.D., Director of Dermatology Clinical Research at Henry Ford Health and study investigator. “This research shows the importance of addressing both the clinical aspects of psoriasis as well as the broader dimensions of daily life, and underscores that patients prefer oral treatments.”
Both patients and providers expressed strong preferences regarding treatment types. Oral therapies were preferred by just over half of adult patients (50.5%) and nearly half of providers (47.5%), compared to topicals or injectables. Providers indicated they would favor oral therapy if efficacy, safety, and tolerability were equivalent across all administration methods. Notably, more than nine out of ten patients currently receiving injectable treatments said they would be willing to switch to an equally effective oral medication with a favorable safety profile.
“Delivering on our commitment to understand the expectations of patients and healthcare providers involves actively seeking input, responding to feedback, and continually building a more patient-centered approach to care,” said Meredith Hans Moore, VP Global Medical Affairs Immunology at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. “These initial study findings uncover important insights around the unmet need that remains for oral psoriasis therapies that meet patients’ clinical and daily life needs.”
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes rapid skin cell production leading to red or discolored patches covered with scales or plaques. It affects more than eight million people in the United States alone—part of an estimated 125 million worldwide—and can occur anywhere on the body in varying forms according to information from the National Psoriasis Foundation: https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis;https://www.psoriasis.org/content/statistics;https://www.psoriasis.org/locations-and-types/. Plaque psoriasis is identified as the most common form: https://www.psoriasis.org/locations-and-types/.
Living with psoriasis often impacts not only physical health but also emotional well-being and relationships: https://www.psoriasis.org/life-with-psoriasis/. Those who have lesions in highly visible or sensitive areas may experience even greater negative effects on quality of life: https://www.psoriasis.org/high-impact-sites/.
Janssen Biotech Inc., which contributed to this research effort through its affiliation with Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, continues work toward developing therapies that address these needs.
For additional information about Johnson & Johnson’s initiatives in innovative medicine visit https://www.jnj.com/ or www.innovativemedicine.jnj.com.