The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Novartis’ Cosentyx (secukinumab) for the treatment of two new indications: adults with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). A

Cosentyx is a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively neutralizes circulating IL-17A. Research suggests that IL-17A Cosentyx is the first in a new class of medicines called interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitors to treat both AS and PsA. The two new indications follow the earlier FDA approval for Cosentyx in January 2015 to treat adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and European approval for AS and PsA in November 2015.

AS and PsA are both inflammatory diseases that affect the joints and/or spine. If not treated effectively, both conditions can lead to irreversible joint and/or spinal bone damage caused by years of inflammation.

Secukinumab is pegged as a potential blockbuster with sales of $1.0 billion by 2019, according to a 2015 analysis by Thomson Reuters.

Source: Novartis