Phase III trial shows Ilaris (Novartis) allows discontinuation of corticosterioids in sJIA

In a Phase III clinical trial of Ilaris (canakinumab), from Novartis, patients (2-19 years of age) with active systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) received subcutaneous injections (4mg/kg to 300 mg max) every four weeks during the maximum 20-week corticosteroid (CS) tapering phase. A total of 72% (92/128) patients using CS at baseline entered the CS-tapering phase, 44.5% (57/128) qualified as CS-tapering successes (primary endpoint).

At the end of the CS-tapering phase 42/128 (33%) patients were CS-free and 24/128 (19%) had a CS dose ?0.2 mg/kg/day (a secondary endpoint). At the end of the tapering phase, the CS-free patients had active arthritis in fewer joints, a lower physician's global assessment of disease activity and a less limited range of motion. Data was presented at the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism.