According to a press release from BioSpace, on October 6, Novartis received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the intravenous formulation of the interleukin-17A antagonist secukinumab (Cosentyx) for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Previously, the agent was only approved for these conditions in a subcutaneous formulation. Secukinumab was designed to target and inhibit the interleukin-17A cytokine, thereby suppressing the inflammatory pathway often associated with rheumatic diseases. According to Philip Mease, MD, Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, noted that the intravenous route of administration will improve treatment access for “a significant portion of patients” with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis who may not be comfortable with self-injections or prefer to receive treatments in an office or clinic.
October 19, 2023