PsA: With concomitant moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, administer 300 mg subcutaneously at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, and then 300 mg every four weeks thereafter (the plaque psoriasis dosing). For some patients, a lower dose of 150 mg may be acceptable.
PsA (other): Secukinumab may be administered with or without a loading dosage. With a loading dose, administer 150 mg subcutaneously at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, and every four weeks thereafter. Without a loading dose, administer 150 mg subcutaneously every four weeks. If PsA persists, consider using the higher dosage of 300 mg.
Secukinumab (Cosentyx) is to be used under the guidance and supervision of a physician. When deemed appropriate after proper training in subcutaneous injection technique, patients may self-administer using the Sensoready pen or prefilled syringe. The lyophilized powder is for healthcare provider use only. The drug should be administered at a different anatomic location (such as upper arms, thighs or any quadrant of the abdomen) than the previous injection and not into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, erythematous, indurated or affected by psoriasis.
Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, CGP, RPh, is a freelance medical writer based in New York City and a pharmacist at New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.
References
- Barber J. Cara Therapeutics reports positive mid-stage data for CR845 in osteoarthritis. FirstWord Pharma. 2016 Dec 9.
- Genovese MC, Fleischmann R, Tanaka Y, et al. Long-term safety and efficacy of olokizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis who have previously failed anti-TNF treatment. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015 Oct; 67(suppl 10).
- Novartis receives two new FDA approvals for Cosentyx to treat patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis in the US. Novartis press release. 2016 Jan 15.
- Cosentyx (secukinumab) product labeling. Novartis. Updated January 2016.
