Novartis reports positive urticaria drug trial data

Novartis has reported positive clinical trial data for omalizumab, an approved therapy that is currently being trialled in a new indication for the skin condition chronic spontaneous urticaria.

Results from the Asteria II trial showed that the compound provided effective treatment in patients with moderate to severe refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria who have remained symptomatic despite treatment with approved antihistamine doses.

Around 66 percent of patients receiving the drug had their itching and hives well-controlled within 12 weeks of initiating treatment, versus 19 percent for placebo.

Omalizumab has been approved in Europe under the name Xolair for the treatment of severe allergic asthma since 2005 and could now bring benefits to an entirely new patient demographic.

Tim Wright, global head of development at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, said: "We are committed to helping patients with this disease and look forward to receiving further results from ongoing longer-term clinical trials."

Earlier this month, the company's drug Certican became the first agent approved for preventing organ rejection in adult patients receiving a liver transplant in the US for more than a decade.