Novartis strengthens autoimmune indications for Cosentyx

Novartis has further strengthened Cosentyx’s (secukinumab) offering to patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), following the emergence of long-term, positive III data.

The four-year study, known as MEASURE 1, assessed the efficacy and safety of Cosentyx versus placebo in 290 patients with active AS, and researchers found patients achieved at least a 20% improvement in the ASAS 20 response criteria.

A further study, FUTURE 5, evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Cosentyx in nearly 1,000 patients with active PsA, although it is estimated that official results will not be released for another year.

Vas Narasimhan, global head, drug development and chief medical officer, Novartis, said: “Maintaining mobility is our hope and vision for every patient with chronic inflammatory diseases such as AS and PsA.”

AS typically effects people in their teens and twenties, and it is characterised by the inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and new bone formations caused by increased levels of IL-17A.

Cosentyx, the first and only IL-17A inhibitor approved to treat this disease, is a targeted biologic that selectively neutralises interleukin-17A (IL-17A), the key cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of AS and PsA.

Narasimhan continued: “Reducing radiographic progression would be a strong signal for patients who hope to stay mobile as this would result in a significant improvement of their quality of life.”

Novartis’ monoclonal antibody is currently approved for use in over 70 countries for patients with active AS and PsA.

Cosentyx is also approved in more than 75 countries for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Across all three indications, Cosentyx has demonstrated ‘rapid’ and ‘sustained’ efficacy as well as a “consistently favourable safety profile”, including close to zero injection site reactions or associated pain.