Cosentyx (also referred to by its generic name, Secukinumab) is a biologic medication approved to treat severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults under certain circumstances in England, Wales and Scotland. It is also approved for the treatment of severe psoriasis in children and young people aged 6 to 17 years under certain circumstances (in England and Wales).
Cosentyx binds to a cytokine (chemical messenger) called interleukin-17A (IL-17A), which is involved in the body’s inflammatory and immune responses. There are higher levels of IL-17A in psoriatic plaques than in non-psoriatic skin. By binding to IL-17A, Cosentyx inhibits its action (ie. stops it from working as it usually does). This means Cosentyx interrupts the inflammatory cycle of psoriasis, which can lead to the improvement in symptoms for many people who take it.
Because of the effect Cosentyx has on the immune system, you will be monitored for infections throughout treatment, and you will be tested for latent (hidden) TB before starting treatment. People taking Cosentyx may need an annual flu jab, but should check with a doctor or nurse before having any other vaccinations or taking other medication.
Cosentyx is for adults, adolescents and children (6 years of age and older) with severe psoriasis who have not responded to, or cannot take or tolerate other systemic treatments including ciclosporin, methotrexate or PUVA. Cosentyx can also be prescribed for adults with active psoriatic arthritis if other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs have not worked. This includes the ‘anti-TNF’ biologic treatments. This means that if you have taken systemic treatments such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine or leflunomide, or biologic treatments such as Etanercept (Enbrel or Benepali), Adalimumab (Humira, Amgevita, Hulio, Hyrimoz, Idacio and Imraldi), Infliximab (Remicade, Remsima, Inflectra or Flixabi), or Simponi (Golimumab) for your psoriatic arthritis without a good response, you could be offered Cosentyx.
Cosentyx is taken as an injection under the skin, either via pre-filled syringe or pre-filled ‘pen' device, similar to people with diabetes. The dose can vary depending on the weight of the child or adolescent, or the severity of psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis in adults. Your Dermatologist, Rheumatologist, Paediatrician or Specialist Nurse will discuss your dose with you.
Most people will be trained by a nurse to administer the injection themselves. In the first four weeks, your prescribed dose should be taken once, each week. After that, doses are taken monthly.
People taking Cosentyx are likely to need regular blood tests - usually carried out by the Dermatology or Rheumatology departments, or by your own GP - to monitor for infections or other possible effects of the treatment.
If an adequate response is not seen after 12 weeks of using Cosentyx, the treatment will be stopped.
The most common side effects reported include upper respiratory tract infections, headache, cold sores, nausea, fatigue and diarrhoea. Many side effects of Cosentyx are mild and do not cause most people to stop taking it.
Although side effects are possible with this, and any treatment, it is important to remember that people taking Cosentyx have regular blood tests to check for health issues. If a serious infection occurs a doctor will most likely stop Cosentyx. If you are worried about the side effects of Cosentyx, you should discuss these with your doctor or specialist nurse.
Cosentyx can only be prescribed by the hospital consultant (Dermatologist or Rheumatologist) who is responsible for your psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis care.
Cosentyx has been used to treat psoriasis in the UK since 2015. ‘Real-world’ safety and effectiveness data is being compiled by the British Association of Dermatologists Biologics and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR) and the British Society for Rheumatology Psoriatic Arthritis Register (BSR-PsA). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that all patients receiving biologic therapy, who provide their consent, are entered onto these observational study registers.
The information on this page is not intended to replace that of a healthcare professional: If you have any concerns or questions about your treatment, do discuss this with your doctor and always read the patient information leaflet to make sure you are using them correctly.
For more information, or for a list of resources used in the production of this information sheet, please contact the Psoriasis Association.
The information on this page is also available in our Cosentyx (Secukinumab) information sheet