Novartis asserts dominance in severe skin conditions with new data

Novartis will present new data on secukinumab in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at the forthcoming European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting, from 10–13 June, in Rome, Italy.

Additionally, new data on Cosentyx(TM) (secukinumab) in difficult-to-treat psoriasis of the palms, soles and nails, and on Xolair (omalizumab) in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, will be presented at the 23rd World Congress of Dermatology (WCD), from 8–13 June in Vancouver, Canada. In total, there will be five oral presentations and 32 posters from Novartis at these leading congresses.

"Patients with long-term inflammatory joint and skin conditions are too often living with debilitating physical and psychological effects of their disease," said Vasant Narasimhan, global head of development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "We are excited to present further new data on secukinumab for ankylosing spondylitis, Cosentyx in psoriasis of the palms, soles and nails, and Xolair in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria to address the significant unmet needs for these patients."

At the EULAR congress, data from the pivotal Phase III MEASURE 2 study will demonstrate that secukinumab improves the signs and symptoms of AS disease activity through one year of treatment, confirming previous one-year data from the MEASURE 1 study. AS is a long-term, painful and progressively debilitating inflammatory disease that leads to excessive formation of new bone, particularly in the joints of the spine, which can fuse together. There are limited therapeutic options available to people with AS and there is a significant unmet need for new treatment options.

Highlights of dermatology data at WCD include results of Cosentyx in difficult-to-treat and debilitating types of psoriasis of the palms and soles (palmoplantar), and nails. Palmoplantar and nail psoriasis have a more severe impact on patients than psoriasis that is limited to other parts of the body. Results showing quality of life improvements in Xolair-treated patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU), a condition characterized by persistent itching, swelling and rash, and which is known as Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU) in the US and Canada, will also be presented at the congress. Xolair is the first and only therapy approved to treat CSU patients with inadequate responses to H1-antihistamines.

Cosentyx is the approved brand name for secukinumab in psoriasis. Secukinumab is not currently approved in AS or psoriatic arthritis (PsA).