Novartis presents positive Phase III results from JUNIPERA study supporting Cosentyx as a potential treatment in a JIA population at EULAR 2021

• Phase III JUNIPERA study met its primary endpoint, with Cosentyx (secukinumab) showing significantly longer time to flare (longer time to worsening of symptoms¹) vs. placebo (P<.001) in pediatric patients with two subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)²
  
  
• JIA has limited treatment options and affects approximately 2 million children worldwide^3,4. Subtypes juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA) and enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) are progressive, debilitating diseases associated with high levels of pain and functional disability, affecting children as young as two years old⁵
  
  
• Data follow recent US and EU approval of Cosentyx as a first-line systemic treatment for pediatric psoriasis, reinforcing the commitment of Novartis to the pediatric community
  
  
• Cosentyx has approvals across four indications, and is supported by long-term five-year sustained efficacy and safety data across psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), with more than 400,000 patients treated worldwide since launch^6-9

Basel, June 2, 2021 — Novartis, a leader in rheumatology and immuno-dermatology, today announced 2-year positive results from the Phase III JUNIPERA study, demonstrating that Cosentyx (secukinumab) significantly delayed time to flare vs placebo (P<.001) in pediatric patients with juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA) and enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) – two subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)². The data will be presented as a late-breaker at the EULAR 2021 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (Abstract #LB0004; oral presentation: Saturday, June 5, 8:10 AM CEST) ².

“Both JPsA and ERA are progressive, chronic, debilitating diseases with limited treatment options. JIA can impact the daily lives of children and teenagers, with over 30% of children with JIA finding it difficult to attend school due to their condition, and many children still having active disease as adults,” said Dr. Hermine Brunner, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and lead investigator of the JUNIPERA study. “The JUNIPERA data are encouraging and pave the way for an effective treatment option that delays the worsening of symptoms leading to improvement in quality of life for these children.”