title: Canakinumab: a human anti-IL-1β monoclonal antibody for the treatment of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes.
abstract: The cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are a group of rare inherited inflammatory diseases associated with overproduction of IL-1β. Canakinumab, developed by Novartis AG (Basel, Switzerland), is an intravenously or subcutaneously administered, fully human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the bioactivity of human IL-1β. Canakinumab has promising clinical safety and pharmacokinetic properties, and has demonstrated potential for the treatment of CAPS. Canakinumab was recently granted EU orphan drug status for systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and early clinical trials have established that administration of canakinumab every 2 weeks is both safe and effective. Subcutaneous canakinumab (approved formulation) offers some advantages over the existing IL-1β-blocking treatment, anakinra, which must be injected daily and is often not well tolerated by patients. The long-term safety of all targeted anti-IL-1 therapies in CAPS remains an unanswered question owing to the relatively short clinical experience with these agents; as canakinumab produces sustained IL-1 suppression, vigilance is necessary to diagnose the development of adverse events, especially any associated infections.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Research Group, School of Immunity and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Leigh D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Church
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: McDermott
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D056587:Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; C541220:canakinumab