Novartis’ Ilaris has become the first biologic drug to be approved in the EU to treat the symptoms of gouty arthritis in another gain for the interleukin-1 beta inhibitor.
The European Commission (EC) cleared llaris (canakizumab) for the treatment of adult patients who have suffered at least three gouty arthritis attacks in the previous 12 months, but who are unsuitable for treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colchicine or repeated courses of corticosteroids.
Gouty arthritis – commonly known as gout – is an “excruciating condition”, according to Novartis division head David Epstein, who noted that Ilaris offers new hope to patients who do not currently have treatment options.
Data from two phase III trials of Ilaris in acute gouty arthritis attacks showed that patients treated with the drug experienced significantly greater pain relief compared to the injectable steroid triamcinolone acetonide, while most adverse events were mild to moderate in severity.
The most frequent side effects were infections, and particularly upper respiratory tract infections and nasopharyngitis.
Ilaris was launched in the US and EU in 2009 as a treatment for an auto-inflammatory condition called cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS). The rarity of that condition has meant sales have been relatively small, coming in at $72m last year, albeit a 56 per cent gain over 2011.
Gouty arthritis is a much bigger market for the drug and, along with a juvenile arthritis indication Novartis is pursuing, could push Ilaris towards blockbuster status with sales in excess of $1bn a year.
“Our vision is to realise the potential of Ilaris wherever IL-1 beta plays a key role and available treatment options don’t give patients the help they need,” said Epstein.
EU approval comes after the US FDA knocked back Ilaris for gouty arthritis, saying in 2011 that Novartis needed to provide more data on the drug’s risk-benefit profile, specifically its potential to leave patients vulnerable to infections.
Gout has been a tricky indication for drug developers to crack, with the FDA turning down another CAPS treatment – Regeneron’s IL-1 inhibitor Arcalyst (rilonacept) – in 2012 on the grounds of inadequate safety data and concern about a risk of malignancy.
One success came in 2010 when Savient secured approval for its Krystexxa (pegloticase) drug as a second-line treatment after oral xanthine oxidase inhibitors in patients with severe debilitating chronic tophaceous gout.
However, the drug has failed to make significant inroads because of a high price and tendency to stimulate neutralising antibodies that limit its therapeutic effect, according to Decision Resources.
There is still a great demand for safer and more effective therapies with the phase III pipeline featuring another potential blockbuster in the form of AstraZeneca/Ardea Biosciences URAT1 inhibitor lesinurad.