BRIEF—Expanded approval for Cosentyx in Europe

The European Commission (EC) has approved a label update for Cosentyx (secukinumab), says the drug’s marketer, Swiss Pharma giant Novartis.

Cosentyx is the first and only fully-human treatment that specifically inhibits interleukin-17A (IL-17A), in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The new label update includes dosing flexibility of up to 300mg based on clinical response that will provide clinicians with greater choice for their patients.

Novartis posted third-quarter 2018 sales for Cosentyx of $750 million, up 37% year-on-year. Analysts at Jefferies have suggested the drug could reach peak sales of $5 billon.

The label update also includes 24-week structural data with subcutaneous (sc) regimens demonstrating that Cosentyx inhibits progression of joint damage in PsA.

"Cosentyx has shown that it can slow the progression of joint damage inflicted by psoriatic arthritis, which can lead to significant mobility loss for patients," said Paul Emery Professor of Rheumatology, Arthritis Research UK and Director Leeds NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. "The label update allows dosing flexibility up to 300mg, giving clinicians and patients greater choice in how to target this progressive and debilitating condition, based on individual response to treatment."

This label update is significant as PsA can lead to significant mobility loss and irreversible joint damage if sub-optimally-treated, says Novartis. PsA is a chronic, progressive and irreversible disease leading to pain, fatigue, as well as activity impairment and significant mobility loss due to structural damage.