News

British Columbia is now reimbursing ankylosing spondylitis treatment Renflexis (infliximab-abda) under its public drug plan, according to Merck Canada. Besides adults with ankylosing spondylitis, the reimbursement — effective Aug. 21 — covers all other approved indications. Those include treatment of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis…

Izana Bioscience has launched a proof-of-concept Phase 2 clinical study to assess the efficacy of namilumab in patients with moderately to severely active ankylosing spondylitis. The trial is currently recruiting at sites across the U.K., and first results are expected by early 2019. Ankylosing spondylitis is a debilitating type of…

A pilot study will investigate how Cosentyx (secukinumab), which has been approved for some autoimmune disorders, affects bone health in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The upcoming study — titled “The Effects of Secukinumab on Bone Health and Metabolism” — is currently recruiting and will look at the effects of Cosentyx…

The presence of a gene variant considered to be a risk factor for Crohn’s disease and previously associated with ankylosing spondylitis is independent of bowel inflammation and confers protection against ankylosing spondylitis, a study has found. The study, “Association of Crohn’s disease-related chromosome 1q32 with ankylosing spondylitis…

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the approval of Hulio, a biosimilar to Humira, for the treatment of a number of chronic inflammatory diseases including ankylosing spondylitis. A final decision by the European Commission is expected in October. If approved, the agency would grant marketing authorization…

Inhibiting IL-23, a molecule involved in inflammation, was not found to be clinically meaningful to treat ankylosing spondylitis, according to the results from a Phase 2 trial. The study, “Risankizumab, an IL-23 inhibitor, for ankylosing spondylitis: results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept, dose-finding phase 2 study,” was…

Higher levels of fatigue are related to the degree of disability at work among ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients treated with the biologic therapy Enbrel (etanercept), an observational study shows. The study, “…

Women with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) report more severe disease and a poorer quality of life than men, but note comparable improvements in health after starting treatment with TNF inhibitors, a study suggests. Women switch their anti-TNF medications more often, but male patients have a faster spinal deterioration,…

The European Commission has approved Sandoz’s biosimilar Zessly (infliximab) to treat all indications of its reference medicine Remicade (infliximab), including ankylosing spondylitis (AS). “The European Commission approval for Zessly is a key milestone in bringing this important medicine to appropriate patients,” Richard Francis, CEO of Sandoz,…

Treatment with Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody Taltz (ixekizumab) significantly improved the signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis in patients participating in a Phase 3 clinical trial, results show. The study, called COAST-W (NCT02696798), met its primary and major secondary endpoints, Eli Lilly said in a news release. COAST-W, the second Phase 3…