Novartis' secukinumab meets psoriasis endpoints

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) said subcutaneous secukinumab ( AIN457) met the co-primary endpoints in the Phase III FIXTURE trial to treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Specifically, secukinumab improved the proportion of patients achieving PASI 75 and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) responses at week 12 vs. placebo. Secukinumab also met the secondary endpoints of significantly improving those response rates at week 12 vs. Enbrel etanercept from Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN). The double-blind, international trial enrolled 1,307 patients. The Phase III psoriasis program for secukinumab comprises five trials, including FIXTURE.

This half, Novartis said it plans to submit regulatory applications for secukinumab to treat psoriasis, but the pharma did not disclose details. The mAb targeting IL-17 also is in Phase III testing to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, and in Phase II testing to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). Data from the Phase III trials in arthritic indications are expected in 2014. ...