Novartis’ Cosentyx approved in China for plaque psoriasis
pharmafile | April 2, 2019 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Sales and Marketing | China, Cosentyx, Novartis, pharma, psoriasis
Novartis has revealed that its interleukin-17A (IL-17A) Cosentyx (secukinumab) has been authorised for use in China in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy, following review by the country’s National Medical Products Association (NMPA).
The approval was supported by a range of robust data, including from five-year Phase 3 extension studies in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Importantly, a recent Phase 3 study conducted in Chinese patients showed that 80.9% of those treated with 300mg Cosentyx every four weeks “achieved clear or almost clear skin during the first 12 weeks of treatment”.
The decision means that those among the six million psoriasis patients living in China with moderate-to-severe forms of the condition may now be able to access the drug.
“The average onset age of psoriasis in China is around 30, and many of the moderate-to-severe patients are in their prime. This population plays an irreplaceable role in their family, workplace and society. Thus, treatment with high efficacy, a good safety profile and long-lasting disease control is what we are looking for to help patients get back to normal life and work,” said Professor Jianzhong Zhang, former President of Chinese Society of Dermatology at the Chinese Medical Association. “Positive China data presented recently makes us hopeful for the clinical use of secukinumab in China. I hope to see Chinese patients benefit from this innovative treatment and be relieved from their illness burden.”
Ingrid Zhang, President at Novartis Pharmaceuticals China, also commented: “We are delighted to bring Cosentyx to doctors and patients in China. The approval of Cosentyx has marked a new era of psoriasis treatment, redefining the treatment goal by making clear or almost clear skin achievable. The introduction of Cosentyx should bring outstanding clinical benefit to many patients with psoriasis in China and improve their quality of life.”
Matt Fellows
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