Novartis highlights positive three-year trial data for Cosentyx

Novartis has presented positive clinical trial data demonstrating the long-term skin clearance benefits associated with its psoriasis drug Cosentyx.

Results from the A2304E1 extension study showed that Cosentyx is able to provide high levels of skin clearance and sustained efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, while maintaining a favorable safety profile, across three years.

Of the 320 patients who received Cosentyx, 69 percent achieved clear or almost clear skin at year one, falling only slightly to 64 percent after three years. In addition, 43 percent of patients maintained completely clear skin at year three.

This was the longest phase III Cosentyx trial conducted to date and further underlines the benefits of the drug, which is the first fully human interleukin-17A inhibitor approved to treat adult moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Vasant Narasimhan, global head of development at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, said: "Psoriasis patients want therapies that maintain high levels of skin clearance over the long term, given the impact of the disease on their physical and psychological wellbeing."

The drug is also being evaluated as a treatment for psoriatic arthritis.