Trending News Today: Trial Results Evaluate Secukinumab Versus Adalimumab in Psoriatic Arthritis

Novartis’ secukinumab (Cosentyx) fell short of demonstrating superiority to adalimumab (Humira) for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the head-to-head EXCEED trial, Reuters reported. According to the article, the results showed that secukinumab yielded numerically higher results versus adalimumab but narrowly missed statistical significance for superiority in ACR 20, the primary endpoint of the trial. The study was the first ever monotherapy head-to-head trial with a primary endpoint in PsA specific to joints, the article reported.

New CDC data show that the number of US vaping illnesses has increased again, reaching more than 1800 causes, The Associated Press reported. According to the article, the CDC said 1888 confirmed and probable cases have been reported in 49 states, with a recent Illinois report bringing the toll to 38 deaths in 24 states. The total is 284 higher than what was reported last week and a larger increase than what was seen over the past several weeks, the article reported.

A prototype patient decision aid (PtDA) has been shown to prepare patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to make treatment decisions and have conversations with their physicians regarding their preferences and goals, The American Journal of Managed Care reported. According to the article, the authors conducted a web survey to assess the acceptability, usability, and usefulness of the prototype, including a total of 18 patients with MS who took the survey and another 7 who participated in a focus group. Seventy-two percent of the patients said the PtDA presented the right information and 67% said the information was presented in a balanced manner, but only half said it was aligned with the information they received from health professionals, the article reported.