
CHMP recommends Ilaris (Novartis) for SJIA
Novartis announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion for the use of Ilaris (canakinumab) in the treatment of active Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) in patients aged 2 years and older.
The CHMP opinion was based on two Phase III trials in SJIA patients, aged 2-19, which showed significant improvement in the majority of Ilaris-treated patients. Study 1 showed that 84% of patients treated with one subcutaneous dose of Ilaris achieved the primary endpoint of the adapted pediatric American College of Rheumatology 30 (ACR30), compared to 10% achievement of ACR30 for placebo at Day 15. In the open-label part of Study 2, 92 of 128 patients attempted "corticosteroid tapering". Of those 92 patients, 62% were able to substantially reduce their use of corticosteroids, and 46% completely discontinued corticosteroids.
In the controlled portion of Study 2, there was a 64% relative reduction in the risk of flare for patients in the Ilaris group as compared to those in the placebo group.