FDA approves Novartis’ IL-17A inhibitor Cosentyx to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis

WASHINGTON - Jan. 22, 2015 - PRLog -- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Novartis’ new psoriasis treatment Cosentyx (secukinumab) for adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy (a drug that is absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed to all parts of the body) or phototherapy (light therapy). Cosentyx is the first IL-17A inhibitor approved to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in the United States.

"The FDA's approval of Cosentyx signifies a turning point for psoriasis patients, who can now benefit from the first and only approved treatment targeting the IL-17 pathway, which is proven to play a key role in the development of plaque psoriasis," said David Epstein, Division Head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "This important milestone will now allow patients to receive a treatment that has the proven ability to offer clear or almost clear skin." Cosentyx produced favorable results in skin clearance and had an acceptable safety profile in majority of the 3,990 adult patients who participated in the 10 Phase II and Phase III studies.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease affecting 7.5 million Americans and more than 125 million people worldwide and is characterized by thick and extensive skin lesions which cause itching, scaling, and pain.

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