Novartis Cosentyx Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for First-Line Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis Patients?
Novartis has announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of Cosentyx (secukinumab, formerly known as AIN457) as a first-line systemic treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy.
This recommendation would mean doctors could use secukinumab first-line to treat their psoriasis patients, as an alternative to other first-line systemic treatments, which have significant side effects. Currently, all biologic treatments for psoriasis, including anti-tumour necrosis factor therapies (anti-TNFs) and ustekinumab are recommended for second-line systemic therapy in Europe.
Secukinumab (at a dose of 300 mg) is the first interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor to be recommended as a first-line treatment option for psoriasis patients who require systemic therapy in Europe. Secukinumab works by inhibiting the action of IL-17A, a protein that is found in high concentrations in skin affected by the disease.
"This positive CHMP opinion for secukinumab as a first-line treatment of psoriasis brings us one step closer to approval in Europe and making clear skin a reality for psoriasis patients," said David Epstein, Division Head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "With this exciting news, we may change the way psoriasis is treated, as 50% of patients are unhappy with their current psoriasis therapies, demonstrating an urgent need for new treatments that clear skin faster and for a longer time."
The ultimate aim of psoriasis treatment is clear skin for patients. In clinical studies, 70% or more patients achieved clear skin (PASI 100) or almost clear skin (PASI 90) with secukinumab 300 mg during the first 16 weeks of treatment.
The CHMP opinion was based on the positive results of the Phase III clinical trial programme in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and follows the unanimous recommendation of approval in October from the Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee (DODAC) to the FDA.
In these trials, secukinumab consistently demonstrated very high skin clearance, including superiority to Enbrel (etanercept) in the head-to-head FIXTURE study. Seventy percent or more secukinumab 300 mg patients achieved clear skin (PASI 100) or almost clear skin (PASI 90) during the first 16 weeks of treatment in the FIXTURE and ERASURE studies; this was maintained in the majority of patients up to Week 52 (with continued treatment). Secukinumab patients in the FIXTURE, ERASURE, FEATURE and JUNCTURE studies (reviewed by the US FDA) also observed significant differences as early as Week 2 and on average, secukinumab 300 mg patients had symptoms reduced by 50% by Week 3, compared to Week 7 for Enbrel (etanercept) patients, in FIXTURE. Secukinumab demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with similar incidence and severity of adverse events between secukinumab treatment arms (300 mg and 150 mg).
The European Commission reviews the recommendations of the CHMP. The final decision on approval, usually granted in approximately two months of the CHMP opinion, will be applicable to all European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries.
Related News
-
News BioNTech to begin mRNA vaccine manufacturing in Rwanda by 2025
German biotechnology company BioNTech has stated their intentions to begin production at their mRNA vaccine factory in Rwanda by 2025, which will mark the first foreign mRNA vaccine manufacturing site on the continent of Africa. -
News Identifying Alzheimer’s Disease biomarker proteins with whole blood tests
A University of Manchester spin-out pharmaceutical company, PharmaKure, has reported successful study results for the quantification of Alzheimer’s Disease biomarker proteins with a whole blood test. -
News Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to boost mRNA vaccine initiatives in Africa with USD $40m
To address vaccine inequality and accessibility issues, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation aims to deliver USD $40m to various biotech companies and vaccine manufacturers in support of mRNA vaccine development. -
News CPHI Podcast Series: Exploring neurological frontiers in Alzheimer's and beyond
The next episode of the CPHI Podcast Series delves into the science and background behind some recent developments in the field of Alzheimer's disease and neurological disorders. -
News Is patient centricity the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing?
In this interview with Sandra Sánchez y Oldenhage, President of PharmAdvice, she speaks to the importance of considering patients in the manufacturing stages of the pharmaceutical supply chain, and how it can redefine healthcare. -
News CPHI Podcast Series: How to leverage AI for Drug Discovery
Artificial intelligence is the topic of debate in the latest episode from the CPHI Podcast Series, where Digital Editor Lucy Chard speaks with Bill Whitford of DPS Group about the integration of AI in healthcare. -
News Pfizer forges ahead with blood cancer therapy after approval from FDA
Pfizer gains accelerated approval from the US FDA for their new bispecific antibody therapy for multiple myeloma, set to address an unmet need for patients. -
News Alzheimer's drug donanemab deemed effective in landmark clinical trial
Results from the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 Randomised Clinical Trial into the use of donanemab to treat early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease have been analysed.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance