BRIEF—Novartis releases new positive data for Cosentyx in psoriasis

Switzerland’s Novartis has released results from its CLARITY study, in which its IL-17A inhibitor Cosentyx (secukinumab) compares favorably with Janssen’s IL-12 and IL-23 inhibitor Stelara (ustekinumab).

The firm says the data support findings from the earlier CLEAR study, which found the drug was superior to Stelara in achieving sustained skin clearance at 52 weeks.

The latest, 12-week data show 66.5% and 72.3% of patients treated with Cosentyx achieved both co-primary endpoints, compared to 47.9% and 55.4% patients treated with Stelara.

A survey of dermatologists in the USA has found that IL-17 inhibitors such as Cosentyx and Eli Lilly’s Taltz (ixekizumab) are growing in popularity, at the expense of other classes of biologic, such as TNF-inhibitors.

Cosentyx is approved in 80 countries for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, including in the EU and in the USA.