Novartis reports positive data from secukinumab clinical trial

Novartis has presented new clinical data showing the benefits that its new psoriasis therapy secukinumab can offer in terms of providing clearer skin.

New analyses of phase III studies of the drug have been discussed at the European Association of Dermatology and Venereology Congress, showing that treatment with secukinumab 300 mg resulted in higher rates of clear or almost clear skin at week 12 versus placebo.

This was achieved regardless of patients' psoriasis disease severity, including those with severe psoriasis at the start of treatment, while positive trends in terms of health-related quality of life were also observed.

Secukinumab, also known as AIN457, has already been submitted for regulatory review in both the US and EU.

Vasant Narasimhan, global head of development at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, said: "With global regulatory approvals anticipated shortly, we hope to bring secukinumab to patients living with this debilitating disease, which impacts much more than their skin."

Last month, the drug also became the first ever IL-17A inhibitor to meet its primary endpoint in two phase III studies for psoriatic arthritis.