Novartis AIN457 Meets Primary Endpoint in Two Phase III Studies in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Novartis has announced that AIN457 (secukinumab) met primary and key secondary endpoints in two pivotal Phase III studies (MEASURE 1 and MEASURE 2) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Key endpoints included improvements in signs and symptoms of the disease versus placebo and associated improvements in physical function and quality of life. Secukinumab is an investigational medicine that works by stopping the action of interleukin-17A (IL-17A)[3], a protein that is central to the development of inflammatory diseases, including AS. MEASURE 1 and MEASURE 2 enrolled a combined total of approximately 600 patients. 

"We are thrilled to see positive results with secukinumab in AS, a gravely debilitating condition with a significant remaining unmet need as up to 40% of patients do not respond to anti-TNF therapies," said Vasant Narasimhan, Global Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "With these results in AS and the recently announced positive results in psoriatic arthritis, we now have data from four Phase III trials of secukinumab in spondyloarthropathies which we look forward to presenting at a congress later this year."

AS is a common type of spondyloarthropathy (SpA), a family of long-term diseases impacting joints (inflammatory diseases), which includes other conditions such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Occurring in up to 1% of the general population – typically young men and women aged 25 or older – AS is a painful, debilitating condition primarily associated with swelling, in severe cases fusion of the spine (bones growing together), and irreversible bone formation (new bones growing). It can cause persistent back pain, stiffness, fatigue and curvature of the spine that result in patients becoming progressively disabled and unable to work. People with AS have very few therapeutic options available to them. In case of non-response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-TNF medicines are the only currently available biologic treatment alternative but are not effective for all patients, representing a substantial unmet need.

Joint regulatory applications for secukinumab in AS and PsA are planned for 2015. This follows the secukinumab global regulatory applications for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis which were filed in October 2013 with regulatory decisions anticipated in late 2014 or early 2015.