‘Use of Cosentyx will rise in ankylosing spondylitis’

with the rise in awarenesss on the importance of treating ankylosing spondylitis early

Novartis holds media session on Cosentyx, treatment for ankylosing spondylitis on the 20th

Cosentyx will be reimbursed from the 1st of this month, regardless of the patient's TNF- α inhibitor treatment experience

Use of Cosentyx, which has a new mechanism of action, will increase in patients with TNF-α inhibitor resistance

On the 20th, Novartis held a media session at its Yeouido headquarters in Seoul on Cosentyx, it

Reimbursement for Novartis' Cosentyx has been expanded to the first-line in ankylosing spondylitis in Korea.

 

The rise of the new reimbursed drug option in the treatment of early ankylosing spondylitis, which is added to the existing options of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors such as Humira and Remicade, is expected to increase Cosentyx's use in the field.

 

On the 20th, Novartis held a media session at its Yeouido headquarters in Seoul on Cosentyx, it's biologic that inhibits interleukin (IL)-17A.

 

IL-17 induces the reduction of osteoblasts and causes various inflammatory diseases.

 

Cosentyx has a mechanism of action that directly blocks IL-17, which causes spinal deformity from the earliest stages of the disease including enthesitis.

 

Novartis announced today that Cosentyx’s reimbursement standard had been extended to ankylosing spondylitis on the 1st.

 

Previously, patients were only covered for Cosentyx if they had an inadequate response to one or more TNF-α inhibitors or if they discontinued treatment due to side effects or contraindications.

 

Cosentyx’s reimbursement had been extended to patients with severe active ankylosing spondylitis who have been treated with 2 or more types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) for at least 3 months and have discontinued treatment due to lack of benefit or drug side effects.

 

In the long-term MEASURE1 4-year study, approximately 80% of patients using Cosentyx showed a modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS) of less than 2 over 4 years, showing no progression of spinal deformation.

 

Cosentyx showed sustained effectiveness at all doses and formulations, regardless of age and disease duration.

 

The MEASURE2 study also demonstrated that treatment with Cosentyx improved key symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, including early morning stiffness, spinal pain, fatigue, and nighttime back pain, which was sustained for up to 5 years.

 

Professor Sang-Heon Lee, Professor of Rheumatology at Konkuk University Hospital, said, “The treatment adherence rate of TNF-α inhibitors is not as high as expected, highlighting the limitations of existing treatment options and the need for new treatment options.” Lee added, "People have been switching between TNF-α inhibitors to little effect.

 

Studies have shown that 15.4% of all patients fail treatment.

 

Continuing to use ineffective drugs can be burdensome for patients.

 

It makes medical sense for the patients to attempt a new mechanism of action, such as Cosentyx." The need to start early diagnosis and treatment rises in ankylosing spondylitis Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease in which the spine joint becomes inflamed and gradually stiffens.

 

Inflammation of the spinal joints causes pain, stiffness, and other symptoms.

 

If left untreated, the joints can become stiff and become immobile.

 

Ankylosing spondylitis affects a various body systems and can lead to a number of complications.

 

Recognizing the condition is the first step in its treatment, as the disease progresses slowly and patients often don't recognize the early symptoms.

 

Professor Lee said, “Although many patients affected with rheumatism are women aged in their 40s to 50s, spondylarthritis patients are more generally men aged in their teens to 30s.

 

Ankylosing spondylitis occurs in socially active patients, therefore their life satisfaction will decrease.

 

Ankylosing spondylitis often starts with pain in the hips, patients should suspect ankylosing spondylitis if the pain persists.

 

"Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic inflammatory disease, not just a spinal condition, and is difficult to diagnose early.

 

Patients tend not to notice the stiffness in the morning and the stiffness improves with activity during the afternoon, so they often visit the hospital too late.

 

Recognizing the early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis and administering medications early can lead to a good recovery.

 

It is important to recognize the condition early on."