Novartis said it presented the long-term real-world evidence data for Cosentyx, its interleukin 17A inhibitor for treating psoriasis, at the 28th Annual European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) conference in Madrid from Oct. 9-13.

Novartis' psoriasis treatment Cosentyx

“Through the new data, Cosentyx once again strengthened its position as a fast-acting and long-lasting treatment,” the company said. “Five real-world evidence and observational studies conducted for Cosentyx in 13,000 moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis patients showed its long-term efficacy, positive safety profiles, and improved quality of life for up to two-and-a-half years.”

Such results support the efficacy and safety profile Cosentyx identified in phase 3 clinical trials and further solidify the prescribing rationale in the actual care setting, the company added.

The company also unveiled its new two-year integrated analysis of the drug in treating psoriatic arthritis, primary concomitant disease of psoriasis, at the conference.

Novartis divided the patients according to the presence of osteoarthritis, and compared the treatment effect of psoriatic arthritis with Cosentyx. Both Cosentyx 300mg or 150mg groups maintained improvement for up to two years. Notably, the time taken for complete treatment of osteoarthritis was shorter than that of the placebo group in patients treated with Cosentyx.

Osteoarthritis is an inflammation of the bones where muscles or tendons attach. The symptoms appear in 30 to 50 percent of patients with psoriatic arthritis.

“Cosentyx has already been clinically proven to have a safe and fast effect for at least five years in all indications of psoriasis, including psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis,” said Joseph Liu, executive director of Cosentyx franchise at Novartis Korea.

The new data suggest that Cosentyx's efficacy and safety profile remains the same in the practice setting, and Cosentyx is strengthening its position as a comprehensive psoriasis treatment that takes into account the patients’ quality of life, Liu added.

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