The FINANCIAL — Novartis announced today top-line results from the head-to-head Phase III psoriasis study which showed the superiority of secukinumab (AIN457) in clearing skin to Enbrel (etanercept), an anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy. In addition, secukinumab (AIN457) met all primary and secondary endpoints.
The FIXTURE trial was a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, multicenter global study of subcutaneous secukinumab in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis involving 1,307 patients. It was designed to demonstrate efficacy after 12 weeks of treatment, compared to placebo and etanercept, and to assess the safety, tolerability and long-term efficacy up to 52 weeks. Established treatment measures were used to assess the efficacy of secukinumab including PASI 75 and the Investigator's Global Assessment, a standard tool to assess the clearing of skin after treatment, according to Novartis AG.
"These results showing that secukinumab (AIN457) is superior to Enbrel, a current standard-of-care therapy, are great news for people living with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis," said Tim Wright, Global Head of Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "With 40-50% of people living with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis dissatisfied with their current therapies, there is clearly an unmet medical need for new therapies that act faster and longer to relieve pain, itching and other symptoms," he added.
Secukinumab is the first medicine selectively targeting IL-17A to present Phase III results. IL-17A is a central cytokine in the development of psoriasis, and is found in high concentration in skin affected by the disease. IL-17A plays a role in driving the body's autoimmune response in disorders such as moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and is a preferred target for investigational therapies, shows the research.
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