Novartis's Late-stage Study On Cosentyx Hits Primary Endpoint Goal In Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Novartis AG NVS said that the Phase 3 JUNIPERA study met its primary endpoint, with Cosentyx (secukinumab) showing a significantly longer time to worsening of symptoms compared to placebo in pediatric patients with two subtypes of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
The data will be presented at the EULAR 2021 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology.
Cosentyx demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no new safety signals reported in pediatric patients (age 2 to 17 years) with two years of treatment.
Cosentyx is a human biologic that directly inhibits interleukin-17A (IL-17A), a cornerstone cytokine involved in the inflammation and development of psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and axial spondyloarthritis.
Regulatory submissions in Europe and the US are anticipated in the coming weeks.
Price Action: NVS shares are up 1.02% at $89.02 during the premarket session on the last check Wednesday.