Novartis reports positive trial data for psoriasis drug

Novartis has announced the publication of data from two phase III clinical trials of its interleukin-17A inhibitor therapy secukinumab in the treatment of psoriasis.

Appearing in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the data showed that secukinumab was able to meet all primary and key secondary endpoints after 12 weeks in both the Erasure and Fixture studies.

Over the course of the Fixture trial, Novartis' drug was able to show superiority to an established alternative in improving moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis symptoms, while both studies demonstrated the therapy's superiority over placebo.

Secukinumab is the first therapy selectively targeting IL-17A to publish phase III results. Regulatory submissions for the development compound were completed in the EU and US in 2013.

David Epstein, division head at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, said: "This data, which is part of our regulatory submissions, is important as there is a high need for effective new therapies for people living with this debilitating disease."

Earlier this week, the company released new global guidelines for investigator-initiated trials, as part of wider efforts to strengthen its research ethics, governance and transparency.