Late-breaking data show Novartis' Cosentyx delivers high and long-lasting skin clearance over 4 years for psoriasis patients

Cosentyx significantly superior to Stelara in delivering long-lasting skin clearance in psoriasis over 52 weeks.

"These impressive results show that Cosentyx keeps working year-on-year, maintaining high levels of skin clearance with a favorable safety profile," said Vasant Narasimhan, Global Head, Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. "Psoriasis patients need therapies they can use over long periods of time without loss of efficacy and we are pleased that Cosentyx is proving a sustainable choice for patients."

The aim of psoriasis treatment is clear skin, and the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) 90 response is considered an important measure of treatment success. Clear or almost clear skin (PASI 90) was achieved by 68.5% of patients at Year 1 and this high rate was maintained to Year 4 (66.4%). In addition, 43.8% of psoriasis patients achieved completely clear skin (PASI 100) at Year 1 and this rate (43.5%) was maintained to Year 4. The average improvement of psoriasis as measured by the PASI score was maintained at over 90% after 4 years of treatment. The standard goal of treatment, PASI 75 response, was achieved by 88.5% of patients at Year 4. In this long-term study, Cosentyx continues to have a favourable safety profile, which was consistent with that demonstrated in previous Phase III studies.

Also presented at EADV were results demonstrating the longer-term efficacy (1.5 years) of Cosentyx in treating psoriasis of the hands and feet (palmoplantar), which are considered difficult areas to treat on the body. Approximately 60% of patients achieved clear or almost clear palms and soles with Cosentyx, which continued to improve over 1.5 years. This demonstrates the strength of Cosentyx as an important treatment option for patients with psoriasis on these parts of their body that are crucial for everyday function. These patients are known to suffer greater disability and discomfort than those with psoriasis on other areas.

Newly published data also show Cosentyx delivers superior, long-lasting skin clearance versus Stelara (ustekinumab) for up to 1 year in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: 76% for Cosentyx vs. 61% for Stelara at 52 weeks. Cosentyx has now shown superior and sustained results versus both Stelara and Enbrel, two widely used biologic treatments. This head-to-head CLEAR study was published in advance of the EADV congress in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.