secukinumab
Cosentyx (secukinumab) is an interleukin-17A inhibitor from Novartis for plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, enthesitis-related arthritis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. It blocks a key cytokine that sustains inflammation in skin, joints, and spine.
This page is based on FDA prescribing information and the EMA medicine record for secukinumab, cross-checked with DailyMed and the National Cancer Institute dictionary; the mechanism is explained in plain language, and analogies are used only where they stay accurate.
How it works
Explains what the medicine does in the body, not dosing, side effects, or safety.
An analogy
In psoriasis and related diseases, immune cells keep shouting an inflammatory message called IL-17A at the skin, joints, and spine. Secukinumab is a sponge shaped exactly for that message. It soaks up IL-17A before it can be read, so the tissues stop reacting, plaques fade, and swollen joints and spine stiffness ease.
In simple terms
Secukinumab is a recombinant human antibody given by subcutaneous injection. It binds the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A and prevents it from signalling to tissues. IL-17A helps maintain the inflammation behind plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa, so blocking it calms skin plaques, joint swelling, spinal inflammation, and the painful skin lumps of hidradenitis suppurativa.
In depth
Secukinumab is a recombinant human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A. Upon subcutaneous administration it selectively binds IL-17A and blocks its interaction with the IL-17 receptor, interrupting the cytokine cascade that recruits neutrophils and sustains tissue inflammation. This anti-inflammatory activity underlies its efficacy across plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis including ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic disease, enthesitis-related arthritis, and hidradenitis suppurativa, in the age groups approved for each indication.
See it in motion
A schematic animation of the mechanism — simplified for clarity, not drawn to scale.
How secukinumab, a fully human IgG1 antibody, neutralises IL-17A
- Secukinumab is a recombinant human antibody given by subcutaneous injection.
- Secukinumab is a recombinant human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A.
- Upon subcutaneous administration it selectively binds IL-17A and blocks its interaction with the IL-17 receptor, interrupting the cytokine cascade that recruits neutrophils and sustains tissue inflammation.
- This anti-inflammatory activity underlies its efficacy across plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis including ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic disease, enthesitis-related arthritis, and hidradenitis suppurativa, in the age groups approved for each indication.
Target: Interleukin-17A (IL-17A)
A pro-inflammatory cytokine that drives the immune loop behind plaque psoriasis, spondyloarthritis, and hidradenitis suppurativa; neutralising it interrupts the inflammation at its signal source.
Approved uses
Approved uses differ by country and change over time. Always follow your local prescribing information.
Approved uses in United States
FDA- For the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 6 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy
- For the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older
- For the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older
- For the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in adult patients with objective signs of inflammation
- For the treatment of active enthesitis-related arthritis in pediatric patients 4 years of age and older
- For the treatment of moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older
Approved uses in European Union
EMA- For the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and children from the age of 6 years who are candidates for systemic therapy
- For the treatment of active moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa) in adults with an inadequate response to conventional systemic hidradenitis suppurativa therapy
- Alone or in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adults when the response to previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy has been inadequate
- For the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis in adults who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy
- For the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation as indicated by elevated C-reactive protein and/or magnetic resonance imaging evidence in adults who have responded inadequately to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Alone or in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of active enthesitis-related arthritis in patients 6 years and older whose disease has responded inadequately to, or who cannot tolerate, conventional therapy
Official sources
The statements on this page trace back to these records.
- Cosentyx (secukinumab) — Summary of product characteristics and package leaflet, English version
European Medicines Agency
- DailyMed: COSENTYX (secukinumab) official US label
U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: secukinumab prescribing information
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- National Cancer Institute: secukinumab
National Cancer Institute
This page explains how the medicine works — it isn’t the patient leaflet. For anything that applies to you, read the leaflet that came with your medicine or ask your pharmacist.
MedUnfold provides educational content and is not medical advice. Always follow your local prescribing information and healthcare professional.