Novartis' secukinumab meets in ankylosing spondylitis

Three days after an FDA committee backed the approval of Cosentyx secukinumab from Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, the compound met its primary and key secondary endpoints in two Phase III trials in ankylosing spondylitis, another indication dominated by anti-TNF therapies.

Novartis spokesperson Julie Masow said up to 40% of ankylosing spondylitis patients are unresponsive to anti-TNF drugs or are intolerant of treatment. She said the human IgG1 mAb targeting IL-17A is the first compound in its class to show efficacy in Phase III trials to treat ankylosing spondylitis. ...