Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc., a company focuses on medication management programmes for people with complex chronic diseases, has received two new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for limited-distribution drug Cosentyx to treat patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.

Diplomat announced that it is now filling prescriptions for two new indications for Cosentyx (secukinumab). The two new indications follow the earlier US FDA approval for Cosentyx in January 2015 to treat adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The FDA has approved indications for the treatment of adults with active ankylosing spondylitis and active psoriatic arthritis.

Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are both lifelong, painful and debilitating inflammatory diseases that affect the joints and/or spine. It is estimated that up to 0.5% of the population have ankylosing spondylitis and up to 1% live with psoriatic arthritis. If not treated effectively, both conditions can lead to irreversible joint and/or spinal bone damage caused by years of inflammation.

“Cosentyx is now the first and only interleukin (IL-17A) antagonist approved for ankylosing spondylitis and moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis,” said Gary Kadlec, Diplomat president. “The two new approved indications are a real turning point for those living with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis–offering a new approach to treating two of the most common inflammatory joint conditions.”

Cosentyx is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and intended for patients who are eligible for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Diplomat serves patients and physicians in all 50 states. Headquartered in Flint, Michigan, the company focuses on medication management programmes for people with complex chronic diseases, including oncology, immunology, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, HIV, specialized infusion therapy and many other serious or long-term conditions.