Novartis has scored a win in Korea’s reimbursement system, clearing its immunosuppressant Cosentyx (secukinumab) for use in children and teens with chronic, severe plaque psoriasis, an age group long barred from advanced treatment options.
Starting Tuesday, patients aged six to 18 with symptoms persisting for more than six months can access the IL-17A inhibitor with insurance benefits. The move marks a pivotal shift for pediatric psoriasis care in the country, where Novartis Korea says treatment options have been limited and slow to gain coverage.
According to a Novartis spokesperson, Cosentyx will be reimbursed 609,485 won ($415) per 150 mg Sensoready pen.
Novartis’ Cosentyx Sensoready pen, priced at 609,485 won in Korea, is now reimbursed for pediatric patients with severe plaque psoriasis. (Courtesy of Novartis Korea)
Novartis’ Cosentyx Sensoready pen, priced at 609,485 won in Korea, is now reimbursed for pediatric patients with severe plaque psoriasis. (Courtesy of Novartis Korea)
To qualify for reimbursement, patients must show plaque psoriasis covering more than 10 percent of their body surface area and have a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of 10 or greater. They must have failed at least three months of conventional therapies like methotrexate, cyclosporine, or light-based treatments such as PUVA or narrowband UVB, either due to lack of efficacy or side effects.
Ongoing reimbursement hinges on patient response. After 12 weeks of Cosentyx, only those with at least a 75 percent drop in PASI scores qualify for another six months of treatment. Subsequent access requires reassessment every six months.
Novartis backed the case with data from its A2310 and A2311 trials, which showed strong response rates in pediatric patients, rivaling those seen in adults. In A2310, low- and high-dose groups posted PASI 75 scores of 80.0 percent and 77.5 percent at week 12, compared to just 14.6 percent in the placebo arm. Nearly 70 percent of kids in the low-dose group hit clear or almost clear skin by week 12, vs. under 5 percent on placebo.
By week 52, PASI 90 scores in the high-dose group hit 80 percent. A2311 showed similar results, with both dosing groups hitting a PASI 75 rate of 92.9 percent.
A separate meta-analysis of approved biologics for pediatric plaque psoriasis placed Cosentyx at the top of the class for PASI 90 response, with no elevated risk of discontinuation from side effects.
Novartis Korea said Cosentyx’s every-four-weeks dosing adds another edge in a pediatric setting, easing the treatment burden for families already juggling chronic care.
“This is a group with limited options and more complex needs than adults,” said Park Joo-young, head of Novartis Korea’s Immunology Therapeutic Area. “Cosentyx finally gives them a new option.”
Cosentyx, a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks IL-17A, has racked up more than 1.6 million prescriptions globally. Novartis Korea is also backing the rollout with a patient support call center that offers disease education and treatment guidance.
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Kim Ji-hye jkim404@docdocdoc.co.kr
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