How COSENTYX® (secukinumab) Works

COSENTYX is thought to help people with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) move and feel better.

Did you know an overactive immune system is like an overactive tennis ball machine? Watch this video to see how taking COSENTYX can help you get back into the swing of things.

Actor portrayal of how COSENTYX works.

What makes COSENTYX different?

COSENTYX is the first FDA-approved biologic of its kind to treat nr-axSpA by targeting a molecule called IL-17A. It's one of the molecules that could play a role in inflammation in people with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. A biologic is a protein-based medication that is made from living sources and taken by injection or infusion.

Why is it important to target and block IL-17A?

Although some IL-17A is normal, when there’s an overproduction of it, your body becomes overwhelmed. This leads to damaging inflammation, causing you to see and feel symptoms of nr-axSpA, like back pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.

COSENTYX can help reduce nr-axSpA symptoms so you don't have to fight as hard through your day.

In a clinical trial, many people taking COSENTYX saw at least a 40% improvement in overall symptoms at 16 weeks,^† with many continuing to see similar results at 1 year.^‡

^†41% of people taking COSENTYX vs 28% taking placebo.
^‡38% of people taking COSENTYX vs 19% taking placebo.

COSENTYX is the #1 prescribed treatment of its kind^§

^§Across all indications combined.

234k

COSENTYX has been prescribed to more than 234,000 people in the US^§

^§Across all indications combined.

15 YRS

COSENTYX has been studied for over 15 years in dozens of clinical trials

COSENTYX Experience

COSENTYX has had a consistent safety profile since its launch in 2015, when it was approved to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. In 2016, it was FDA approved to treat active ankylosing spondylitis and active psoriatic arthritis in adults. Then, it was approved in 2020 to treat adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. It has since been approved to treat children with plaque psoriasis (6 and older), psoriatic arthritis (2 and older), and enthesitis-related arthritis (4 and older).

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Indications

COSENTYX^® (secukinumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat:

people 6 years of age and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis that involves large areas or many areas of the body, and who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet or UV light alone or with systemic therapy)
people 4 years of age and older with active enthesitis-related arthritis
people 2 years of age and older with active psoriatic arthritis
adults with active ankylosing spondylitis
adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and objective signs of inflammation

Important Safety Information

Do not use COSENTYX if you have had a severe allergic reaction to secukinumab or any of the other ingredients in COSENTYX. See the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients.

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

Infections

COSENTYX may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections, sometimes serious.

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

Before starting COSENTYX, tell your doctor 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: fevers, sweats, or chills; muscle aches; cough; shortness of breath; blood in your phlegm; weight loss; warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body; diarrhea or stomach pain; burning when you urinate or urinate more often than normal

After starting COSENTYX, call your doctor right away if you have any signs of infection listed above. Do not use COSENTYX if you have any signs of infection unless you are instructed to by your doctor.

Inflammatory bowel disease

New cases of inflammatory bowel disease or “flare-ups” can happen with COSENTYX, and can sometimes be serious. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease), tell your doctor if you have worsening disease symptoms during treatment with COSENTYX or develop new symptoms of stomach pain or diarrhea.

Serious allergic reactions

Serious allergic reactions can occur. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms: feeling faint; swelling of your face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing or throat tightness; chest tightness; skin rash or hives (red, itchy bumps). If you have a severe allergic reaction, do not give another injection of COSENTYX.

Before starting COSENTYX, tell your doctor if you:

have any of the conditions or symptoms listed above for infections.
have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).
are allergic to latex. The needle cap on the COSENTYX Sensoready® 150 mg/mL pen and the 150 mg/mL and 75 mg/0.5 mL prefilled syringes contains latex.
have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). People who take COSENTYX should not receive live vaccines. Children should be brought up to date with all vaccines before starting COSENTYX.
have any other medical conditions.
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if COSENTYX can harm your unborn baby. You and your doctor should decide if you will use COSENTYX.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if COSENTYX passes into your breast milk.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I use COSENTYX?

See the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with your COSENTYX for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of COSENTYX, and how to properly throw away (dispose of) used COSENTYX Sensoready pens and prefilled syringes.

Use COSENTYX exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
If your doctor decides that you or a caregiver may give your injections of COSENTYX at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject COSENTYX. Do not try to inject COSENTYX yourself, until you or your caregiver has been shown how to inject COSENTYX by your doctor or nurse.

The most common side effects of COSENTYX include: cold symptoms, diarrhea, and upper respiratory infections. These are not all of the possible side effects of COSENTYX. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

COSENTYX® WORKS DIFFERENTLY TO TREAT NON-RADIOGRAPHIC AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS