Novartis Announces New Data On Spondylitis Drug Cosentyx

Swiss pharma giant Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) announced positive new data from the ongoing PREVENT study on spondylitis drug, Cosentyx (secukinumab).

PREVENT is an ongoing two-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study (with a two-year extension phase) investigating the efficacy and safety of Cosentyx in patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).

The ongoing study met its primary endpoint at week 16 as the data showed a significant and clinically meaningful reduction in disease activity in patients treated with Cosentyx compared to those on placebo. The study also met all secondary endpoints. The data also demonstrated a favorable safety profile, consistent with previous clinical studies.

Notably, axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a spectrum of long-term inflammatory disease characterized by chronic inflammatory back pain. nr-axSpA forms part of the axSpA spectrum and is characterized by chronic inflammatory back pain and symptoms such as nocturnal pain, morning stiffness and impaired quality of life. The spectrum includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS), in which joint damage is visible on x-ray, and nr-axSpA, in which joint damage is not visible on x-ray.

Per estimates, approximately 1.7 million patients with nr-axSpA are living in the European Union and the United States.

Cosentyx is the first and only fully-human biologic that directly inhibits interleukin-17A (IL-17A). Novartis has already submitted its application to the European Medical Agency (EMA) for approval of the same in the nr-axSpA indication. If approved, this will be the fourth indication, for which the drug will be approved in this region. The 52-week data from the PREVENT study are expected later in the year and should support a potential label expansion of the drug in the United States for this indication.

Novartis’ shares have gained 0.5% in the year so far against the industry’s decline of 2.4%.

We remind investors that Cosentyx is already approved in the United States and Europe for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, AS and psoriatic arthritis. Sales of the drug came in at $1.6 billion in the first half of 2019.

However, the drug faces stiff competition from the likes of Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) Stelara and Tremfya, and AbbVie’s (NYSE:ABBV) Skyrizi in various indications.

Zacks Rank & Another Stock to Consider

Novartis currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Another well-placed, large-cap pharma stock is Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) , sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Bristol-Myers’ earnings per share estimates have increased from $4.16 to $4.28 for 2019 and from $4.41 to $5.36 for 2020 in the past 60 days.

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