A message from Novartis on COVID-19 | COSENTYX® (secukinumab)

What does the availability of COVID-19 vaccines mean for patients taking COSENTYX^® (secukinumab)?

According to the COSENTYX Prescribing Information, prior to initiating therapy with COSENTYX, consider completion of all age appropriate immunizations according to current immunization guidelines. COSENTYX may alter a patient's immune response to live vaccines. Avoid use of live vaccines in patients treated with COSENTYX
As of June 24, 2021, all COVID-19 vaccines with emergency use authorization are non-live vaccines, and at this time, there are no live COVID-19 vaccines in phase 3 clinical development¹

Please click here for the COSENTYX Medical team letter to help you make informed clinical decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccines in patients taking COSENTYX.

What does COVID-19 mean for patients taking COSENTYX?

At this time, Novartis does not have data on patients with COVID-19 who start or continue on COSENTYX
COSENTYX may increase the risk of infections. Exercise caution when considering the use of COSENTYX in patients with a chronic infection or a history of recurring infection²
Instruct patients to seek medical advice if signs and symptoms suggestive of an infection occur. If a patient develops a serious infection, monitor the patient closely and discontinue COSENTYX until the infection resolves²

Please click here for the COSENTYX Medical team letter to help you make informed clinical decisions regarding COVID-19 in patients taking COSENTYX.

Availability & Manufacturing

Secukinumab is manufactured in France and Switzerland in sterile, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities³
At this time, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation does not anticipate supply chain disruption due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We are confident that our existing stock is sufficient to cover production/distribution needs for the time being
Where required, we have enacted mitigation plans to ensure ongoing drug supply⁴
The quality, safety, and efficacy of our products are of fundamental importance to Novartis, and we are committed to ensuring that all our marketed products meet the highest quality standards

Tap to see IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION and INDICATIONS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CONTRAINDICATIONS
COSENTYX is contraindicated in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction to secukinumab or to any of the excipients in COSENTYX. Cases of anaphylaxis have been reported during treatment with COSENTYX...

CONTRAINDICATIONS

COSENTYX is contraindicated in patients with a previous serious hypersensitivity reaction to secukinumab or to any of the excipients in COSENTYX. Cases of anaphylaxis have been reported during treatment with COSENTYX.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Infections

COSENTYX may increase the risk of infections. In clinical trials, a higher rate of infections was observed in COSENTYX treated subjects compared to placebo-treated subjects. In placebo-controlled clinical trials in subjects with moderate to severe PsO, higher rates of common infections, such as nasopharyngitis (11.4% versus 8.6%), upper respiratory tract infection (2.5% versus 0.7%) and mucocutaneous infections with candida (1.2% versus 0.3%) were observed in subjects treated with COSENTYX compared to placebo-treated subjects. A similar increase in risk of infection in subjects treated with COSENTYX was seen in placebo-controlled trials in subjects with PsA, AS and nr-axSpA. The incidence of some types of infections, including fungal infections, appeared to be dose-dependent in clinical trials.

In the postmarketing setting, serious and some fatal infections have been reported in patients treated with COSENTYX.

Exercise caution when considering the use of COSENTYX in patients with a chronic infection or a history of recurrent infection. Instruct patients to seek medical advice if signs or symptoms suggestive of an infection occur. If a patient develops a serious infection, monitor the patient closely and discontinue COSENTYX until the infection resolves.

Pre-treatment Evaluation for Tuberculosis

Evaluate patients for tuberculosis (TB) infection prior to initiating treatment with COSENTYX. Avoid administration of COSENTYX to patients with active TB infection. Initiate treatment of latent TB prior to administering COSENTYX. Consider anti-TB therapy prior to initiation of COSENTYX in patients with a past history of latent or active TB in whom an adequate course of treatment cannot be confirmed. Monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of active TB during and after treatment.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) exacerbations, in some cases serious and/or leading to discontinuation of COSENTYX, occurred in COSENTYX treated subjects during clinical trials in PsO, PsA, AS, nr-axSpA, and HS. In adult subjects with HS, the incidence of IBD was higher in subjects who received COSENTYX 300 mg every 2 weeks (Ulcerative Colitis [UC] 1 case, EAIR 0.2/100 subject-years; Crohn’s Disease [CD] 1 case, EAIR 0.2/100 subject-years) compared to subjects who received COSENTYX 300 mg every 4 weeks (IBD 1 case, EAIR 0.2/100 subject-years). In addition, new onset IBD cases occurred in subjects treated with COSENTYX in clinical trials. In an exploratory trial in 59 subjects with active Crohn’s disease [COSENTYX is not approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease], there were trends toward greater disease activity and increased adverse reactions in subjects treated with COSENTYX as compared to placebo-treated subjects.

Exercise caution when prescribing COSENTYX to patients with IBD. Patients treated with COSENTYX should be monitored for signs and symptoms of IBD.

Eczematous Eruptions

In postmarketing reports, cases of severe eczematous eruptions, including atopic dermatitis-like eruptions, dyshidrotic eczema, and erythroderma, were reported in patients receiving COSENTYX; some cases resulted in hospitalization. The onset of eczematous eruptions was variable, ranging from days to months after the first dose of COSENTYX.

Treatment may need to be discontinued to resolve the eczematous eruption. Some patients were successfully treated for eczematous eruptions while continuing COSENTYX.

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Anaphylaxis and cases of urticaria occurred in COSENTYX treated subjects in clinical trials. If an anaphylactic or other serious allergic reaction occurs, administration of COSENTYX should be discontinued immediately and appropriate therapy initiated.

The removable caps of the COSENTYX Sensoready^® pen and the COSENTYX 1 mL and 0.5 mL prefilled syringes contain natural rubber latex, which may cause an allergic reaction in latex-sensitive individuals. The safe use of the COSENTYX Sensoready pen or prefilled syringe in latex-sensitive individuals has not been studied.

Immunizations

Prior to initiating therapy with COSENTYX, consider completion of all age-appropriate immunizations according to current immunization guidelines. COSENTYX may alter a patient’s immune response to live vaccines. Avoid use of live vaccines in patients treated with COSENTYX.

MOST COMMON ADVERSE REACTIONS

Most common adverse reactions (>1%) are nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, and upper respiratory tract infection.

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.

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What does the availability of COVID-19 vaccines mean for patients taking COSENTYX® (secukinumab)?

What does COVID-19 mean for patients taking COSENTYX?

Availability & Manufacturing

References

What does the availability of COVID-19 vaccines mean for patients taking COSENTYX^® (secukinumab)?