Novartis could gain further traction in the psoriasis drug market after European regulators granted a label update showing the firms Cosentyx clears skin better than Johnson & Johnsons rival, Stelara. <\/p>\n
Europes CHMP scientific committee approved the label update for Cosentyx (secukinumab), the first interleukin-17A approved to treat psoriasis. <\/p>\n
Sales of Cosentyx, which is injected every four weeks, are mounting and the drug looks set to achieve blockbuster status, with sales expected to peak at around $4 billion. <\/p>\n
But the market is highly competitive, with a range of disease modifying drugs available and Stelara establishing itself as a mainstay treatment. <\/p>\n
Results of the CLEAR study showing Cosentyx is better at clearing skin than Stelara first emerged at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) conference in October. <\/p>\n
Data presented at the congress in Vienna, showed Cosentyx is significantly superior to J&Js Stelara (ustekinumab)in delivering long-lasting skin clearance in psoriasis over 52 weeks. <\/p>\n
Further data published at the congress also showed long-lasting clear or almost clear skin in the vast majority of patients, with a favourable safety profile over four years. <\/p>\n
Almost all response rates are maintained from year one to year four, according to data. <\/p>\n
The four-year data was based on assessments using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 90 (almost clear skin), and PASI 100 (clear skin). <\/p>\n
The label update also includes data on the treatment of scalp psoriasis, a particularly difficult form of the disease to treat as activity is often maintained through hair care, scratching and shampooing. <\/p>\n
Vas Narasimhan, Novartis chief medical officer, said: We are continually investigating new areas for Cosentyx to significantly enhance patients quality of life, such as scalp psoriasis. <\/p>\n
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Novartis' psoriasis drug gets label boost - pharmaphorum<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Novartis could gain further traction in the psoriasis drug market after European regulators granted a label update showing the firms Cosentyx clears skin better than Johnson & Johnsons rival, Stelara. Europes CHMP scientific committee approved the label update for Cosentyx (secukinumab), the first interleukin-17A approved to treat psoriasis Continue reading