Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS) Turns Heat On Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Psoriasis Drug Stelara

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Novartis AG (ADR) (NYSE:NVS) Turns Heat On Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Psoriasis Drug Stelara

Novartis AG (ADR)(NYSE:NVS) psoriasis drug Cosentyx should continue to grab market share after the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) approved a new label update. The update is with regards to a CLEAR study that showed the drug is superior when compared to Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Stelara. 

Cosentyx New Label

The updated label details the use of Cosentyx for the treatment of moderate to severe scalp psoriasis. The update is based on proven efficacy and safety profile of the drug. The new label addresses an important medical need given that people with scalp psoriasis rarely achieve adequate response from current treatments

“We are happy to see these two important label updates for our IL-17A-inhibitor, Cosentyx, and the first IL-17A inhibitor approved to treat psoriasis. We are continually investigating new areas for Cosentyx to significantly enhance patients’ quality of life, such as scalp psoriasis,” said Vas Narasimhan Novartis Chief Medical Officer.

Cosentyx’s is the first IL-17A inhibitor to demonstrate efficacy and safety in Phase 3 study of scalp psoriasis.

Competition

Last year, Cosentyx grabbed market share from AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) Humira and Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) Enbrel on being approved for new indications in Europe. Sales of $1 billion all but affirmed the drug’s blockbuster status as a novel treatment for the more than 50 million impacted by Psoriasis all over the world.

Novartis expects the new label indication to lead to the next phase of growth on sales, beginning 2018. Cosentyx will now target sales on the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and enclosing spondylitis following the CHMP milestone.

Cosentyx is currently approved in more than 75 countries for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. It is also approved in 70 countries for the treatment of active PsA and AS. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects more than 125 million all over the world. PsA on the other hand is a form of Psoriasis in which joints are mostly affected resulting in debilitating symptoms such as pain and stiffness.