BASEL, Switzerland, June 1, 2026
Novartis announced that it will present new data from 31 abstracts across its expanding immunology portfolio at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Congress 2026, taking place June 3-6 in London. The presentations showcase advances in the company’s leading autoimmune disease programs, including Cosentyx® (secukinumab), ianalumab, and rapcabtagene autoleucel (rap-cel), targeting diseases with significant unmet medical need such as polymyalgia rheumatica, Sjögren’s disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and systemic sclerosis.
Cosentyx Data Strengthens Position in Polymyalgia Rheumatica
A major highlight of the Novartis presentation portfolio is the new Phase 3 REPLENISH trial data evaluating Cosentyx (secukinumab) in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects older adults. The oral presentation will feature results from what Novartis describes as the largest global Phase 3 study ever conducted in PMR. Additional subgroup analyses from Week 52 will provide deeper insights into treatment outcomes across different patient populations. Novartis will also present pooled analyses from the FUTURE 1 and FUTURE 5 trials evaluating the impact of early biologic intervention with secukinumab on radiographic progression in psoriatic arthritis, further supporting the therapy’s long-term disease-modifying potential.
Ianalumab Shows Continued Promise in Sjögren’s Disease and Lupus
Novartis will present important updates on ianalumab, its investigational B-cell-targeting therapy, including interim findings from the ongoing Phase 3 NEPTUNUS extension study in patients with Sjögren’s disease. The data include efficacy and safety outcomes extending up to 108 weeks, providing one of the most comprehensive long-term datasets in this difficult-to-treat autoimmune disorder. In addition, new Phase 2 findings in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) will evaluate the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous ianalumab following B-cell recovery. These presentations are expected to provide further evidence supporting ianalumab’s potential to become a significant therapeutic option across multiple autoimmune diseases where treatment options remain limited.
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CAR-T Therapy Advances Autoimmune Disease Treatment Landscape
Novartis will also showcase progress with rapcabtagene autoleucel (rap-cel/YTB323), its rapidly manufactured CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapy. New data from the AUTOGRAPH studies will evaluate the safety and early efficacy of rap-cel in patients with severe refractory idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, two devastating autoimmune diseases with few effective treatment options. Additional findings from an ongoing Phase 1/2 study in severe refractory SLE will provide up to 24 months of clinical, pharmacodynamic, biomarker, and cellular kinetics data, offering valuable insights into the long-term potential of CAR-T therapy in autoimmune disorders. These results highlight Novartis’ commitment to expanding advanced cell therapy approaches beyond oncology and into immunology.
Novartis stated that the breadth of data being presented at EULAR 2026 reflects its strategy of advancing innovative therapies ranging from small molecules and biologics to next-generation CAR-T treatments. With multiple late-stage programs progressing across rheumatology and autoimmune diseases, the company aims to address critical unmet needs while improving long-term outcomes for patients living with complex immune-mediated conditions worldwide.
Source: Novartis, press release
