US Breakthrough designations granted for Novartis' Ilaris for rare periodic fever syndromes

Novartis (NOVN:VX) has received breakthrough designations from the US Food and Drug Administration for its drug Ilaris (canakinumab) to treat three rare types of periodic fever syndromes.

The Swiss pharma giant will now work closely with the FDA to speed up the regulatory review of Ilaris.

Periodic fever syndromes are a group of autoinflammatory diseases that cause disabling and recurrent fevers, which may be accompanied by joint pain and swelling, muscle pain and skin rashes, with complications that can be life-threatening.