Novartis announces phase III study results for secukinumab

Novartis has announced positive results from two phase III studies evaluating the interleukin-17A inhibitor, secukinumab, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Secukinumab (AIN457) met all primary and secondary endpoints at week 12 in the ERASURE and FIXTURE studies, demonstrating superiority to etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen), according to a company press release.

More than half of patients treated with secukinumab 300 mg experienced clear or almost clear skin based on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 90 or 100, compared with 20.7% of patients treated with etanercept in the FIXTURE study. After week 12, patients continued to improve, with more than 70% experiencing clear or almost clear skin by week 16. With continuous treatment, these results were maintained up for up to 52 weeks, according to the release.

Secukinumab-treated patients reported more improvement at week 12 in symptoms such as itching, pain and scaling compared with placebo in the ERASURE study. Additionally, health-related quality of life was shown to significantly improve among patients treated with secukinumab compared with placebo treatment in both studies, according to the release.

The ERASURE and FIXTURE studies were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.