Video: New Biological Therapy Ilaris(R) Approved in US to Treat Children and Adults with CAPS, a Serious Life-Long Auto-Inflammato...( - Phase III data show rapid and susta...),Health

- Phase III data show rapid and sustained remission in more than 90% of Ilaris-treated patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS)

- Ilaris is the first approved treatment for children as young as four and is given only every eight weeks

- Highly selective in targeting and blocking interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), which is overproduced in CAPS patients causing inflammation

- Studies under way in other inflammatory disorders involving IL-1 beta, such as some forms of gout, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and type 2 diabetes

EAST HANOVER, N.J., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ilaris(R) (canakinumab) for the treatment of children and adults with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), which includes a number of rare, but life-long, auto-inflammatory disorders with debilitating symptoms and limited treatment options. The FDA granted priority review to Ilaris based on its potential to meet an important clinical need for patients with CAPS.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/novartis/38814/

Ilaris is the first approved treatment for patients as young as four years old suffering from two forms of CAPS: familial cold auto-inflammatory syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS).

CAPS is caused by a single gene mutation that leads to overproduction of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), which causes sustained inflammation and tissue damage. Symptoms, such as debilitating fatigue, rash, fever, headaches, joint pain and conjunctivitis, can be present from birth or infancy, and occur daily throughout patients' lives. Long-term consequences may be serious and potentially fatal, and include deafness and amyloidosis resulting in renal failure and early death.