Secukinumab

Generic name: secukinumab
Brand name: Cosentyx
Dosage form: injection
Drug class:Interleukin inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Apr 26, 2022.

What is secukinumab?

Secukinumab is an immunosuppressant medicine that reduces the effects of a chemical substance in the body that can cause inflammation. It is used to improve the symptoms of some types of autoimmune conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis, chronic plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and enthesitis-Related arthritis.

Secukinumab is from a group of medicines called interleukin (IL) inhibitors, and works by blocking the activity of a protein called IL-17A.  People who have autoimmune conditions have increased levels of this protein. By blocking the protein's activity it reduces inflammation, pain, swelling and skin symptoms that you may have.

What is secukinumab used for?

Secukinumab is an immunosuppressant used to treat:

• moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients 6 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy
• active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients 2 years of age and older 
• adults with active ankylosing spondylitis
• adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and objective signs of inflammation
• active enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) in patients 4 years of age and older 

This medicine may improve your psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and enthesitis-related arthritis, but it may also lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections.

Important information

Secukinumab is a medicine that affects your immune system and may increase your risk of having serious side effects such as:

Infections. This medicine may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections.

• Your healthcare provider should check you for tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment with this medicine.
• If your healthcare provider feels that you are at risk for TB, you may be treated with medicine for TB before you begin treatment and during treatment with .this medicine
• Your healthcare provider should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment. Do not take this medicine if you have an active TB infection.

Before starting this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• are being treated for an infection
• have an infection that does not go away or that keeps coming back
• have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB
• think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as:
  • fever, sweats, or chills
  • muscle aches
  • cough
  • weight loss
  • blood in your phlegm
  • Inf..