Novartis’ Cosentyx approved in EU for ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis

Novartis has announced that its drug Cosentyx has been approved by the European Commission for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.

It is the first interleukin-17A inhibitor to be made available for the treatment of these conditions and represents the first new advance in ankylosing spondylitis therapy for 16 years.

More than 9,600 patients have been treated with Cosentyx in clinical trials across multiple indications, with over 12,500 patients treated in the post-marketing setting. It is currently available for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Recent studies of Cosentyx have shown that it can provide a significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis within three weeks, which can then be sustained for more than two years.

David Epstein, division head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, said: "The strong treatment benefits seen in our studies suggest that Cosentyx may give patients the chance to stop the disease from progressing, preventing living with pain and disability."

Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are common inflammatory joint conditions affecting approximately five million people in Europe.