Novartis' Cosentyx shows significant remission in polymyalgia rheumatica, reducing steroid use.

Novartis announced that its drug Cosentyx (secukinumab) demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful sustained remission in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) compared to placebo, according to Phase III REPLENISH trial data published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial showed that Cosentyx not only doubled remission rates but also significantly reduced steroid use, a common treatment with serious side effects. The drug met all primary and secondary endpoints with a consistent safety profile and is under regulatory review in the US, EU, and Japan, with further submissions planned in 2026. This development offers new hope for PMR patients, a group with limited advanced treatment options and high steroid dependency.