Canakinumab improves SJIA symptoms 50%

Novartis' canakinumab (ACZ885) rapidly controls symptoms in children affected by systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis with fever and arthritis. Data presented at the 15th Pediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress in London, UK, suggest that the agent could provide a major therapeutic advance in the treatment of this pediatric inflammatory disorder, according to the Swiss drug major.

The preliminary findings from a Phase I/II study showed more than half of the young patients treated with canakinumab achieved at least 50% control of the disease's symptoms within 15 days. In addition, four patients achieved complete remission of the condition, showing no arthritis-inflammation in joints, no fever and no disease activity according to the physicians' assessment.