Novartis reports positive data for psoriasis drug

Novartis has announced new clinical trial data that supports the safety and efficacy of secukinumab, its new therapy for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

The drug was shown in the phase III Fixture trial to offer a superior performance to an established anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy, while meeting all of its primary and secondary endpoint goals in the study.

Secukinumab works by selectively targeting IL-17A, a central cytokine in the development of psoriasis that is found in high concentration in skin affected by the disease.

It is the first therapy of its kind to reach phase III testing, with regulatory submissions for the drug on course to take place in the second half of 2013.

Tim Wright, global head of development at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, said: "There is clearly an unmet medical need for new therapies that act faster and longer to relieve pain, itching and other symptoms."

Earlier this month, the company received a new EU approval for its eye drug Lucentis for the treatment of visual impairment due to choroidal neovascularisation secondary to pathologic myopia.