Cosentyx (secukinumab) injections are used to treat types of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, enthesitis-related arthritis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, which are autoimmune conditions. Cosentyx is an immunosuppressant medicine that reduces the effects of a chemical substance in the body that can cause inflammation.

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

What is Cosentyx used for?

Cosentyx is a FDA-approved approved medicine used to treat:

• moderate to severe plaque psoriasis that covers large or many areas of the body for 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. 
• active ankylosing spondylitis in adults.
• active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in adults who have 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.

You may get infections more easily while using this injection, as it lowers your immune system's ability to fight infections. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, skin sores, stomach pain, diarrhea, burning when you urinate, weight loss, cough, shortness of breath, or a cough with red or pink mucus.

Tell your doctor if you have an active infection or have ever been diagnosed with tuberculosis or inflammatory bowel disease before using this medicine.

Use Cosentyx exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand how to use an injection.

Cosentyx is injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection).

Take the injection pen out of the refrigerator and let it reach room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before use. Give the injection within 1 hour after removing the medicine from the refrigerator.  Do not try to warm the medication by heating it in a microwave, placing it in hot water, or through any other method. 

Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. You may need to use 2 injections to get your total dose.

The solution should be clear or light-yellow. Call your pharmacist if the liquid in your vial, pen, or syringe looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it.

Do not shake the syringe or dosing pen.

The injection can be given anywhere on the front of your thighs (upper leg), upper outer arms, or abdomen (stomach) except your navel and the area 2 inches (5 centimeters) around it. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row. Avoid injecting into the skin that is hard, red, bruised, swollen, tender, or affected by psoriasis. 

Throw away a prefilled syringe or injection pen after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.

Do not reuse a needle or syringe. Place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container and dispose of it following state or local laws. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

You may get infections more easily, even serious infections. You will need frequent medical tests.

Cosentyx is supplied as a Sensoready pen, prefilled syringe, or single-dose vial.

Usual Adult Dose for Plaque Psoriasis

Dose:

• 300 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by 300 mg every 4 weeks.
• Each 300 mg dose is given as 2 subcutaneous injections of 150 mg.
• For some patients, a dose of 150 mg subcutaneously may be acceptable.

Use: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Plaque Psoriasis

Dose:

• Dose is based on body weight, given by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by dosing every 4 weeks.
• Body weight less than 50kg: recommended dose is 75mg.
• Body weight is greater than or equal to 50kg: recommended dose 150mg.

Use: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Usual Adult Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis

Dose:

• With a loading dose: 150 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter.
• Without a loading dose: 150 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks; if the patient continues to have active psoriatic arthritis, consider increasing the dose to 300 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks.

Comments:

• For psoriatic arthritis patients with coexistent moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, use the dosage for plaque psoriasis.
• This drug may be administered with or without methotrexate.

Use: Active psoriatic arthritis.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis

Dose:

• Dose is based on body weight, given by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by dosing every 4 weeks.
• Body weight 15 kg to less than 50kg: recommended dose is 75mg
• Body weight is greater than or equal to 50kg: recommended dose 150mg.

Comment: This drug may be administered with or without methotrexate.

Use: Active psoriatic arthritis in patients 2 years and older.

Usual Adult Dose for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Dose:

• With a loading dose: 150 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter.
• Without a loading dose: 150 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks.

Comment: If a patient continues to have active AS, consider a dosage of 300 mg every 4 weeks.

Uses: For active ankylosing spondylitis.

Usual Adult Dose for Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Dose:

• With a loading dosage is 150 mg at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter
• Without a loading dosage is 150 mg every 4 weeks

Use: Active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in adult patients who have objective signs of inflammation.

Usual Dose for Enthesitis-Related Arthritis 

Dose:

• Dose is based on body weight, given by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by dosing every 4 weeks.
• Body weight 15 kg to less than 50kg: recommended dose is 75mg
• Body weight is greater than or equal to 50kg: recommended dose 150mg.

Use: Active enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) in patients 4 years of age and older.

What strengths is Cosentyx available in?

• Cosentyx Sensoready pen: 150 mg/mL single dose.
• Cosentyx prefilled syringe: 150 mg/mL single dose.
• Cosentyx prefilled syringe (for pediatric patients less than 50 kg): 75 mg/0.5 mL single dose.
• Cosentyx lyophilized powder in a single-dose vial 150 mg (healthcare professional use only )

You should not use Cosentyx if you are allergic to the active ingredients secukinumab, or any of the inactive ingredients contained in the medicine. Click here for a full list of Cosentyx Ingredients.

Tell your doctor if you've had or been exposed to tuberculosis, or if you recently traveled. Some infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.

To make sure you can safely use Cosentyx, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• an active or chronic infection;
• inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis);
• an allergy to latex; or
• if you currently have signs of infection such as fever, sweats, chills, muscle pain, cough, shortness of breath, cough with bloody mucus, weight loss, skin sores, stomach pain, diarrhea, or painful urination.

Make sure you are current on all vaccines before you start using this medicine. You should not have any vaccinations during your treatment with Cosentyx without first talking to your doctor.

Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Cosentyx can harm your unborn baby. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use this medicine.

Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor or healthcare professional if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Cosentyx passes into your breast milk.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of Cosentyx.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Avoid receiving a "live" vaccine. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Cosentyx: hives; chest tightness, difficult breathing; feeling like you might pass out; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as

• redness, warmth, or painful sores on your skin;
• cough, shortness of breath, cough with red or pink mucus;
• increased urination, burning when you urinate;
• sores or white patches in your mouth or throat (yeast infection or "thrush");
• new or worsening diarrhea or stomach pain; or
• fever, chills, sweating, muscle pain, weight loss.

Further doses may be delayed until your infection clears up.

Common Cosentyx side effects may include:

• diarrhea; or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Cosentyx may interact with other products, so tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Know the medicines you take and keep a list to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you start a new medicine or stop a regular medicine.

When starting or stopping this medicine patients who are receiving a CYP450 substrate medicine, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic index,  your therapeutic effect or drug concentration may be monitored, and you may need to have a dosage adjustment of the CYP450 substrate. To check for interactions with Cosentyx, click on the link below.