Cosentyx® (secukinumab): Mechanism of action

Cosentyx is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) in adults, children and adolescents from the age of 6 years who are candidates for systemic therapy; active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adult patients (alone or in combination with methotrexate [MTX]) when the response to previous disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy has been inadequate; active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy; active nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) 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; active enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) in patients 6 years and older (alone or in combination with MTX) whose disease has responded inadequately to, or who cannot tolerate, conventional therapy; active juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA) in patients 6 years and older (alone or in combination with MTX) whose disease has responded inadequately to, or who cannot tolerate, conventional therapy.1

Cosentyx Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) can be found here

Cosentyx blocks IL-17A, a key cytokine associated with inflammation in PsA, axSpA and JIA1–11

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Increased levels of IL-17A are found in the tissues of:

  • PsA patients with psoriatic plaques1

  • blood of patients with PsA and AS7,14

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IL-17A is a pro-inflammatory cytokine. Its overproduction may contribute to signs and symptoms seen in patients with PsA, AS, and nr-axSpA1,11,15

Cosentyx blocks 1L-17A, irrespective of its source1,12,13

Watch the video below to discover how Cosentyx works.

Graphic showing the mechanism of adaptive and innate immunity and how this flows to the production of IL-17A.

How does Cosentyx work?

Cosentyx MOA Video 2025 VIDEO

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Efficacy in PsA

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 Efficacy in axSpA

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Efficacy in JIA

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Dosing

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 Safety profile

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HCP resources

Cosentyx is intended for use under the guidance and supervision of a physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions for which Cosentyx is indicated.  Please refer to the Cosentyx SmPC for full product information before prescribing.1

Therapeutic Indications1
Cosentyx is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) in adults, children and adolescents from the age of 6 years who are candidates for systemic therapy; active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adult patients (alone or in combination with methotrexate [MTX]) when the response to previous disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy has been inadequate; active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy; active nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) 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; active moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS; acne inversa) in adults with an inadequate response to conventional systemic HS therapy; active enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) in patients 6 years and older (alone or in combination with MTX) whose disease has responded inadequately to, or who cannot tolerate, conventional therapy; active juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA) in patients 6 years and older (alone or in combination with MTX) whose disease has responded inadequately to, or who cannot tolerate, conventional therapy.1

AS, ankylosing spondylitis; axSpA, axial spondyloarthritis; CRP, C-reactive protein; DMARD, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug; ERA; enthesitis-related arthritis; HS, hidradenitis suppurativa; IL-17A, interleukin 17A; IL-23, interleukin 23; JIA, juvenile idiopathic arthritis; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MTX, methotrexate; NK, natural killer; nr-axSpA, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PsA, psoriatic arthritis; PsO, plaque psoriasis; SmPC, Summary of Product Characteristics; TNFα, tumour necrosis factor alpha.

References

  1. Cosentyx® (secukinumab) Summary of Product Characteristics.

  2. Smith JA & Colbert RA. Arthritis Rheumatol 2014;66(2):231–241.

  3. Cua DJ, et al. Nat Rev Immunol 2010;10(7):479–489.

  4. Baeten D, et al. N Engl J Med 2015;373(26):2534–2548.

  5. Mease PJ, et al. N Engl J Med 2015;373(14):1329–1339.

  6. McInnes IB, et al. Lancet 2015;386(9999):1137–1146.

  7. Mills KHG. Nat Rev Immunol 2023;23(1):38–54.

  8. Raychaudhuri SP & Raychaudhuri SK. Arthritis Res Ther 2017;19(1):51.

  9. Paroli M, et al. Medicina 2022;58:1552.

  10. Lubberts E. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2015;11(7):415–429.

  11. Deodhar A, et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021;73(1):110–120.

  12. Schön M & Erpenbeck L. Front Immunol 2018;9:1323.

  13. Gorelick J, et al. Practical Dermatol 2016;12:35–50.

  14. Tsukazaki H & Kaito T. Int J Mol Sci 2020;21(17):6401.

  15. Miossec P & Kolls JK. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2012;11(10):763–776.

UK | April 2025 | FA-11384553

Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. Adverse events should also be reported to Novartis online through the pharmacovigilance intake (PVI) tool at www.novartis.com/report, or alternatively email [email protected] or call 01276 698370.