Secukinumab

Generic Details

Generic Name

Secukinumab

Other Names

  • Cosentyx

Drug Class

  • Interleukin-17A inhibitor

Chemical Formula

C6426H9912N1716O2004S38

Molecular Weight

147.8 kDa

Mechanism of Action

  • Binds to and inhibits the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A

Indications

  • Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Ankylosing spondylitis

Common Dosage Forms

  • Subcutaneous injection

Typical Dosage

  • 150 mg once a week for first 5 weeks, then 150 mg every 4 weeks

Pediatric Dosage

  • Safety and efficacy not established in pediatric patients

Geriatric Dosage

  • Dose adjustment may be required based on individual patient factors

Side Effects

  • Upper respiratory tract infections
  • Injection site reactions
  • Diarrhea
  • Nasopharyngitis

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to secukinumab or any component of the formulation

Pregnancy Category

  • Category B - Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women

Lactation Safety

  • Unknown if excreted in human breast milk, exercise caution when administering to nursing women

Drug Interactions

  • Live vaccines should not be given concurrently with secukinumab
  • Caution with concurrent immunosuppressive therapies

Overdose Symptoms

  • Limited information available

Antidote for Overdose

  • No specific antidote, manage symptoms and provide supportive care

Storage Conditions

  • Refrigerate at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F), do not freeze

Pharmacokinetics

  • Absorption: Rapidly absorbed after subcutaneous injection
  • Distribution: Volume of distribution approximately 7.5 L
  • Metabolism: Expected to be degraded into small peptides and amino acids
  • Excretion: Primarily excreted unchanged in feces

Precautions

  • Monitor for signs of infection during treatment
  • Caution in patients with active infections or history of recurrent infections

Warnings

  • Increased risk of infections, including serious infections and reactivation of latent tuberculosis

Others

  • Regular monitoring for tuberculosis prior to and during treatment is recommended