Novartis’ Cosentyx shown to modify course of psoriasis

Novartis has announced new clinical trial data showing that its drug Cosentyx is the first and only IL-17A inhibitor to potentially modify the course of psoriasis.

The figures showed that after one year of treatment with Cosentyx, those receiving continuous treatment maintained a high level of response, while 21 percent of those that discontinued treatment maintained skin clearance for up to one year without therapy, with ten percent continuing these benefits after two years without treatment.

Patients with longer disease duration were more likely to relapse, suggesting that early intervention increases the chance of remaining free of the effects of the disease.

To further investigate its potential disease-modifying effects, Novartis has initiated a new trial called STEPIn, which will evaluate Cosentyx in patients with early onset of moderate to severe psoriasis.

Vas Narasimhan, global head of drug development and chief medical officer at Novartis, said: "Being able to change the course of disease is the ultimate goal of treatment, which is why we are investing in the STEPIn trial to further understand the disease modifying ability of Cosentyx in psoriasis."

To date, 80,000 patients have been treated worldwide with Cosentyx in a post-marketing setting. It is the only IL-17A inhibitor approved in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

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