Secukinumab: Additional Phase III data

Additional data from the double-blind, international Phase III FUTURE 2 trial in 397 patients with psoriatic arthritis showed that 150 and 300 mg Cosentyx each met the secondary endpoints of improving PASI 75 (48% and 63%, respectively, vs. 16%, p=0.0017 and p<0.0001) and PASI 90 (33% and 49%, respectively, vs. 9%, p=0.0057 and p=0.0005) response rates at week 24 vs. placebo. The 75 mg dose of Cosentyx did not meet any of the secondary endpoints. Patients received a subcutaneous loading dose of 75, 150 or 300 mg Cosentyx every week for 4 weeks followed by the same subcutaneous maintenance dose every 4 weeks. The trial enrolled patients with active psoriatic arthritis who are intolerant to or have had an inadequate response to NSAIDs, DMARDS and/or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors. Data were published in The Lancet. Last year, Novartis reported that Cosentyx met the primary endpoint of improving ACR20 response rate at week 24 vs. placebo (see BioCentury, Sept. 29, 2014 & Dec. 8, 2014). ...