Novartis' (NVS.US) "Sukhumvit" receives approval for its fifth indication in China.

On March 12, Novartis (NVS.US) announced that its innovative biologics Secukinumab has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), also known as acne inversa. As a fully human anti-IL-17A agent, Secukinumab can significantly reduce inflammatory nodules and abscesses, control disease flares, and provide a new option for HS treatment. According to Novartis' press release, this new indication approval of Secukinumab is its fifth approved indication after adult psoriasis, pediatric psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis. The approval of Secukinumab's HS indication was based on the analysis of the 3-period study projects SUNSHINE and SUNRISE, in which patients treated with Secukinumab 300mg every two or four weeks had a higher proportion of clinical response (HiSCR50) than placebo. These two studies also evaluated the effect of Secukinumab for 16 weeks (compared with placebo) and 52 weeks treatment period, and the effect of Secukinumab started in the second week and gradually increased to the 16th week and was observed until the 52nd week.