Novartis new data reinforces superiority of Cosentyx® versus Stelara®* in achieving skin clearance for psoriasis patients

Novartis International AG / Novartis new data reinforces superiority of Cosentyx® versus Stelara®* in achieving skin clearance for psoriasis patients . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

• Results from CLARITY study show Cosentyx^® (secukinumab) was significantly more effective than Stelara^®* (ustekinumab) in delivering clear and almost clear skin at 12 weeks and at 16 weeks[1]

• Data support findings from the CLEAR study, which found Cosentyx was superior to Stelara®* in achieving sustained skin clearance (PASI 90) at 52 weeks[2]

• Cosentyx is the first and only fully human interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor that showed sustained skin clearance rates at 5 years in patients from a psoriasis Phase III study[3]

Basel, January 16, 2018 - Novartis announced today results from the head-to-head CLARITY study demonstrating the superiority of Cosentyx^® (secukinumab) compared to Stelara^®* (ustekinumab) in delivering clear and almost clear skin in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis at 12 weeks. The study results show 66.5% and 72.3% of patients treated with Cosentyx (p < 0.0001) achieved both co-primary endpoints PASI 90 and IGA mod 2011 0/1, respectively, compared to 47.9% and 55.4% patients, respectively, treated with Stelara®* (p < 0.0001)[1]. At Week 12, patients receiving Cosentyx had significantly greater PASI 100 responses (key secondary objective) compared to those taking Stelara®* (38.1% vs. 20.1%, respectively; p < 0.0001)[1]. The study findings, which support previously presented data from the CLEAR study demonstrating the superiority of Cosentyx to Stelara®* in achieving sustained skin clearance (PASI 90 response rates) at 52 weeks[2], were presented as an abstract today at the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference in Hawaii.

Clear skin is the aim of psoriasis treatment, and a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75, 90 or 100 response is considered an important measure of treatment success[4]-[7]. All key secondary endpoints in the CLARITY study were met. At Week 4, PASI 75 response rates were significantly superior with Cosentyx compared to Stelara®* (40.2% vs. 16.3%; p < 0.0001). At Week 16, Cosentyx demonstrated significantly superior response rates compared to Stelara for PASI 75 (91.7% vs. 79.8%; p < 0.0001), PASI 90 (76.6% vs. 54.2%; p < 0.0001), PASI 100 (45.3% vs. 26.7%; p < 0.0001), and IGA mod 2011 0/1 (78.6% vs. 59.1%; p < 0.0001)[1].