The Novartis headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. <\/p>\n
ZURICH--Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG said Friday that it won approval in Japan for a new psoriasis drug, the first country to give the treatment a green light for commercialization. <\/p>\n
Novartis NOVN, -1.28% said secukinumab, marketed as Cosentyx, is approved in the country to treat psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis in patients who dont respond to other medication. <\/p>\n
The drug is seen by some analysts as a potential blockbuster, industry jargon for medicines that generate more than $1 billion in sales annually. Demand for new treatments for psoriasis and related diseases is high. <\/p>\n
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that is characterized by thick and extensive skin lesions. It causes itching, scaling and pain. Psoriatic arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness and irreversible joint damage. <\/p>\n
Cosentyx inhibits the action of a protein found in high concentrations in skin affected by psoriasis, Novartis said. <\/p>\n
An expanded version of this report appears at WSJ.com. <\/p>\n
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The Wall Street Journal: Novartis psoriasis drug approved in Japan<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Novartis headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. ZURICH--Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG said Friday that it won approval in Japan for a new psoriasis drug, the first country to give the treatment a green light for commercialization Continue reading