Novartis has announced the approval of a Cosentyx (secukinumab) label update in Europe to include dosing flexibility in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
The pharma giant has announced that the European Commission (EC) approved the label update for the up-titration of Cosentyx (secukinumab) to 300 mg for patients with active versions of the disease.
The approval was based on data from MEASURE 3, a three-year study that explored the tolerability and efficacy of Cosentyx in patients with AS, and found that response rates were greater in the 300 mg dose group, particularly among patients with previous anti-TNF exposure, compared with the recommended 150 mg dose.
The move “gives rheumatologists more flexibility to ensure their patients are able to achieve the best response to treatment,” said Sam Khalil, global head of medical affairs immunology, hepatology and dermatology at Novartis.
The drug in question, the first and only fully-human biologic that directly inhibits interleukin-17A, is backed by robust clinical evidence, including five-year data across PsO, PsA and AS, as well as data from real world evidence, with more than 250,000 patients treated worldwide since its launch, it was noted.
Sam continued, “It further encourages our ongoing efforts to reimagine care to ensure all patients are able to experience full relief from the signs and symptoms of AS.”
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a spectrum of long-term inflammatory disease characterised by chronic inflammatory back pain.
