Novartis confirms 5 year data for first and only fully-human IL-17A inhibitor Cosentyx reinforcing sustained efficacy and safety profile in psoriasis

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

The company said that data will be presented at a key medical congress in the second half of 2017. 5 year Phase III data are a recognized milestone for assessing long-term efficacy and safety of innovative treatments.

“Cosentyx has consistently demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety providing psoriasis patients a new standard of long-term care,” said Vas Narasimhan, Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. “With the first data from a pivotal trial with 5 years of follow up, Cosentyx continues to demonstrate it can provide what psoriasis patients want, a life with clear skin.”

4 year Phase III data presented at EADV 2016 showed Cosentyx delivered almost clear or completely clear skin in a majority of patients (PASI 90 – 66%, PASI 100 – 44%) after 4 years of treatment. The data showed that with Cosentyx, 97% of PASI 90 and 99% of PASI 100 response rates were maintained from Year 1 to Year 4.

Recently, new label updates announced for Cosentyx in Europe demonstrated long-term superiority of Cosentyx versus Stelara (ustekinumab) in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis on the basis of 52 week data from the CLEAR study, and expanded the use of Cosentyx for the treatment of moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis, Novartis said. Cosentyx was launched in 2015 as the first and only fully-human IL-17A inhibitor to treat psoriasis and is now licenced for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis as well. Novartis remains committed to investigating important scientific questions with Cosentyx that address unmet needs and could significantly enhance patients’ quality of life.