Novartis AG's New Drug Secukinumab Shows Promise In Two Pivotal Phase 3 Trials

EAST HANOVER, N.J., July 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis today announced that The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published the results from two pivotal Phase III studies evaluating the interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor secukinumab (AIN457). Secukinumab met all primary and key secondary endpoints in the ERASURE and FIXTURE studies, including Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 and 90 and Investigator's Global Assessment modified 2011 (IGA mod 2011) 0/1 responses.[1] The results of the studies are the first Phase III data for an IL-17A inhibitor to be published in a major scientific journal and were part of the data submitted to the FDA, with action expected early next year.

"These data add to our growing understanding of psoriasis and the key role the IL-17 pathway plays in the pathophysiology of the disease," said Dr. Mark G. Lebwohl, Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, President-elect of the American Academy of Dermatology and an investigator in the secukinumab clinical trial program. "New and effective treatment options for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis are necessary as not every patient responds to existing therapies."

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by thick and extensive skin lesions, called plaques, known to cause itching, scaling and pain.[2] The disease affects 7.5 million Americans and can significantly impair physical and psychological quality of life.[3],[4]

PASI measures the redness, scaling and thickness of psoriatic plaques, and the extent of involvement in each region of the body. Treatment efficacy is assessed by the reduction of the score from baseline (ie, a 75% reduction is known as PASI 75 and a 90% reduction is known as PASI 90). PASI 90 is a higher standard of skin clearance compared to PASI 75.

ERASURE Study Design & Results
ERASURE (Efficacy of Response And Safety of two fixed secUkinumab REgimens in psoriasis) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group Phase III study involving 738 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The co-primary endpoints were assessed at Week 12 and compared secukinumab efficacy versus placebo based on PASI 75 and IGA mod 2011 0/1 responses.[1]

The co-primary and all key secondary endpoints of the study met statistical significance. A higher proportion of patients treated with secukinumab 300 mg and 150 mg achieved a PASI 75 response at Week 12 compared to placebo patients: 81.6% (300 mg) and 71.6% (150 mg) versus 4.5% for placebo. A higher proportion of patients treated with secukinumab achieved an IGA mod 2011 0/1 response at Week 12 compared to placebo: 65.3% (300 mg) and 51.2% (150 mg), versus 2.4% for placebo.[1]

For the key secondary endpoints at Week 12, 59.2% (300 mg) and 39.1% (150 mg) of secukinumab patients achieved a PASI 90 response compared to 1.2% of placebo patients. The percentage of patients who achieved a PASI 75 response at Week 12 and maintained the response at Week 52 with continued treatment was 80.5% (300 mg) and 72.4% (150 mg). The percentage of patients who achieved an IGA mod 2011 0/1 response at Week 12 and maintained the response at Week 52 with continued treatment was 74.4% (300 mg) and 59.2% (150 mg). Other secondary endpoints included superiority versus placebo in subject-reported, psoriasis-related itching, pain, and scaling scores on the Psoriasis Symptom Diary© at Week 12.[1]

FIXTURE Study Design & Results
FIXTURE (the Full year Investigative eXamination of secukinumab vs. eTanercept Using 2 dosing Regimens to determine Efficacy in psoriasis) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo and active controlled, multicenter, parallel-group Phase III study involving 1306 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.[1] In this single study with etanercept as active control, the etanercept used was EU-approved and not US-licensed. The co-primary endpoints were assessed at Week 12 and compared secukinumab efficacy versus placebo based on PASI 75 and IGA mod 2011 0/1 responses.[1]

The co-primary and all key secondary endpoints of the study met statistical significance. A higher proportion of patients treated with secukinumab 300 mg and 150 mg achieved a PASI 75 response at Week 12 compared to placebo and etanercept: 77.1% (300 mg) and 67.0% (150 mg), versus 4.9% for placebo and 44.0% for etanercept. A higher proportion of patients treated with secukinumab also achieved an IGA mod 2011 0/1 response at Week 12 compared to placebo and etanercept: 62.5% (300 mg) and 51.1% (150 mg), versus 2.8% for placebo and 27.2% for etanercept.[1]

For the key secondary endpoints, 54.2% (300 mg) and 41.9% (150 mg) of secukinumab-treated patients achieved a PASI 90 response at Week 12 compared to 1.5% of placebo and 20.7% of etanercept patients. A higher proportion of secukinumab-treated patients who achieved a PASI 75 response at Week 12 maintained the response at Week 52 with continued treatment compared to etanercept: 84.3% (300 mg) and 82.2% (150 mg) versus 72.5% for etanercept. The percentage of secukinumab patients who achieved an IGA mod 2011 0/1 response at Week 12 and maintained the response at Week 52 with continued treatment was 79.7% (300 mg) and 67.7% (150 mg) compared to 56.8% of etanercept patients. Other secondary endpoints included superiority versus placebo in subject-reported, psoriasis-related itching, pain, and scaling scores on the Psoriasis Symptom Diary© at Week 12.[1]

"Plaque psoriasis can be a painful and debilitating chronic disease and we are pleased that secukinumab could be an important treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms who need new options," said Christi Shaw, President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and President, Novartis Corporation. "The publication of the Phase III data in NEJM validates the significance of the studies and draws attention to the major unmet need in this disease. Novartis will continue working with investigators and the FDA to bring secukinumab to patients as soon as possible."

In ERASURE, the most common adverse events (AEs) in any treatment group including placebo (n=738) were nasopharyngitis, headache, and upper respiratory tract infection. Eighteen patients in the secukinumab 300 mg arm, 12 patients in the secukinumab 150 mg arm, and five patients in the placebo group discontinued the study due to AEs. Serious AEs during the entire treatment period were reported at rates (in events per 100 subject-years) of 6.3 (300 mg), 6.4 (150 mg), and 7.4 (placebo).[1]

In FIXTURE, the most common AEs in any treatment group including etanercept and placebo (n=1,306) were nasopharyngitis, headache, and diarrhea. Fourteen patients in the secukinumab 300 mg arm, 10 patients in the secukinumab 150 mg arm, 12 patients in the etanercept arm and three patients in the placebo arm discontinued due to AEs. Serious AEs during the entire treatment period were reported at rates (in events per 100 subject-years) of 6.8 (300 mg), 6.0 (150 mg), 7.0 (etanercept), and 8.3 (placebo) with no clinically apparent differences in the type of SAEs among treatment groups. There were no deaths reported although there was one death unrelated to psoriasis during the FIXTURE screening period.[1]

About secukinumab (AIN457) and interleukin-17A (IL-17A)
Secukinumab (AIN457), an investigational agent, is a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) that selectively targets interleukin IL-17A.[5] Secukinumab has been shown to selectively bind to and neutralize IL-17A, inhibiting its pro-inflammatory effects.[6],[7] 

IL-17A is a key cytokine (messenger protein) involved in the development of plaque psoriasis, and is found in high concentrations in psoriasis skin plaques.[8] Research shows that IL-17A plays an important role in driving the body's immune response in disorders such as moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and may represent a new target for investigational therapies.[9],[10]

Disclaimer 
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "to be," "expected," "growing," "can," "could," "will," "investigational," "may," or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals for AIN457 or regarding potential future revenues from AIN457. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that AIN457 will be approved for sale in any market where it has been submitted, or that AIN457 will be submitted or approved for sale in any additional markets, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that AIN457 will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding AIN457 could be affected by, among other things, unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; unexpected manufacturing issues; general economic and industry conditions, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medicines aimed at improving patients' lives. We offer a broad range of medicines for cancer, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, neurological disease, organ transplantation, psychiatric disease, respiratory disease and skin conditions. The company's mission is to improve people's lives by pioneering novel healthcare solutions.

Located in East Hanover, New Jersey, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2013, the Group achieved net sales of USD 57.9 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.9 billion (USD 9.6 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 136,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

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