Cosentyx demonstrates benefit over 1 year in psoriatic arthritis patients

Novartis’ injectable drug secukinumab (Cosentyx) showed significant improvements in treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to a study published in the June 28, 2015 issue of The Lancet.

The FUTURE 2 phase 3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the efficacy and safety of secukinumab, a human anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody, in patients with PsA. The study enrolled 397 patients with active PsA and compared subcutaneous loading and maintenance dosing with secukinumab 300 mg, 150 mg and 75 mg to placebo.

Researchers found that improvements observed with subcutaneous secukinumab 300 mg and 150 mg were sustained over 1 year of treatment in the majority of patients. The phase 3 clinical trials of secukinumab found that American College of Rheumatology response criteria (ACR 20) response rates were also sustained up to 1 year with both doses. Improvements were observed as early as Week 3.

Dr Mease

“Additionally, as part of the FUTURE 2 secondary end points, secukinumab demonstrated improvement in all of the domains of the disease including arthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis and psoriasis,” said Philip Mease, MD, an investigator in the clinical trial program and clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.

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"Secukinumab is the first IL-17A inhibitor to show consistent efficacy through 1 year in psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis," said Vasant Narasimhan, global head of development for Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "Novartis has recently filed global regulatory submissions for secukinumab in both psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis and will continue to work to bring this important advance to patients with these debilitating diseases."

Secukinumab 300 mg and 150 mg also significantly improved psoriasis symptoms. Patients realized a 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI 90). “This is important, as the majority of people living with PsA have a history of, or concomitant, psoriasis, another long-term condition which is characterized by thick and extensive skin lesions, called plaques, known to cause itching, scaling and pain,” according to a Novartis statement.

Secukinumab 300 mg and 150 mg also significantly improved psoriasis symptoms. Patients realized a 90% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI 90). “This is important, as the majority of people living with PsA have a history of, or concomitant, psoriasis, another long-term condition which is characterized by thick and extensive skin lesions, called plaques, known to cause itching, scaling and pain,” according to a Novartis statement.

The most common adverse events patients experienced with secukinumab were upper respiratory tract infections and the common cold.

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