Novartis confirms 5-year efficacy for Cosentyx for psoriasis

Novartis has reported positive 5-year efficacy and safety results for Cosentyx from a phase 3 long-term extension study in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Data from the study will be presented at a medical congress in the second half of 2017, according to a news release.

Researchers presented 4-year data from the same study at the 2016 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress that showed 66% of patients treated with Cosentyx (secukinumab, Novartis) had a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score of 90 (PASI 90) and 44% had PASI 100 from year 1 to year 4 of treatment, showing clear to almost clear skin, according to the release.

The Sculpture extension study of secukinimab for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis was designed to measure long-term safety and efficacy during a double-blind period for up to 4 years and open-label period for up to year 5, with the data analysis for secukinumab including all patients who reached a PASI 75 response at week 12 and subsequently received continuous treatment with 300mg secukinumab through the end of year 5.

Analysis of the PASI 75/90/100 response rates from week 52 to the end of year 5, analyses of body surface area and absolute PASI scores, and the safety profile of secukinumab were included in the study.

"Cosentyx has consistently demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety providing psoriasis patients a new standard of long-term care," Vas Narasimhan, global head of drug development and chief medical officer for Novartis, stated in the release. “With the first data from a trial with 5 years of follow up, Cosentyx continues to demonstrate it can provide what psoriasis patients want, clear skin."

Cosentyx, a fully-human IL-17A inhibitor, was approved by the FDA in 2015 for treating psoriasis, and also has been approved for treating psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Reference: www.novartis.com