CLARITY study shows superiority of Cosentyx over Stelara in patients with plaque psoriasis

Novartis announced results from the head-to-head CLARITY study demonstrating the superiority of Cosentyx (secukinumab) compared to Stelara (ustekinumab) in delivering clear and almost clear skin in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis at 12 weeks.

The study results show 66.5% and 72.3% of patients treated with Cosentyx (p < 0.0001) achieved both co-primary endpoints PASI 90 and IGA mod 2011 0/1, respectively, compared to 47.9% and 55.4% patients, respectively, treated with Stelara (p < 0.0001). At Week 12, patients receiving Cosentyx had significantly greater PASI 100 responses (key secondary objective) compared to those taking Stelara (38.1% vs. 20.1%, respectively; p < 0.0001).

The study findings, which support previously presented data from the CLEAR study demonstrating the superiority of Cosentyx to Stelara in achieving sustained skin clearance (PASI 90 response rates) at 52 weeks, were presented as an abstract today at the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference in Hawaii. Clear skin is the aim of psoriasis treatment, and a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75, 90 or 100 response is considered an important measure of treatment success. All key secondary endpoints in the CLARITY study were met. At Week 4, PASI 75 response rates were significantly superior with Cosentyx compared to Stelara (40.2% vs. 16.3%; p < 0.0001). At Week 16, Cosentyx demonstrated significantly superior response rates compared to Stelara for PASI 75 (91.7% vs. 79.8%; p < 0.0001), PASI 90 (76.6% vs. 54.2%; p < 0.0001), PASI 100 (45.3% vs. 26.7%; p < 0.0001), and IGA mod 2011 0/1 (78.6% vs. 59.1%; p < 0.0001).

See- Bagel J et al. "Secukinumab is Superior to Ustekinumab in Clearing Skin of Patients with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis: CLARITY, a Randomized, Controlled, Phase 3b Trial". Presented as poster 98 at The Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference - Hawaii. January 13, 2018.

Blauvelt A et al. "Secukinumab is superior to ustekinumab in clearing skin of subjects with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis up to 1 year: Results from the CLEAR study." J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017;76(1).