The purpose of this study is to determine whether gevokizumab is effective in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of moderate to severe acne vulgaris
• Acne vulgaris unresponsive to oral antibiotics
• Willingness to maintain current habits for facial cleaning, shaving, and application of cosmetics through the end of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of medications or treatments from specified pre-treatment time periods through the end of the study
• Beard, moustache, sideburns or other facial hair that may interfere with evaluation
• Other forms of acne
• History of malignancy within 5 years
• History of allergic or anaphylactic reactions to monoclonal antibodies
• History of tuberculosis
• History of chronic systemic infections
• Female subjects who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply