Prescription medication · IL-17A Inhibitor (Biologic)
secukinumab
Also sold as Cosentyx. Cosentyx treats moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients 6 years and older.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 157,236
- FDA reportsHeavily reported
- $7206.70
- Brand price (NADAC)
secukinumab (Cosentyx) is a prescription IL-17A Inhibitor (Biologic). Cosentyx treats moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients 6 years and older.
Cosentyx is a medicine that can help reduce inflammation in your body. It is used to treat several conditions, including psoriasis and arthritis.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$7206.70/unit
Generic Available
No
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Cosentyx treats moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients 6 years and older.
Common side effects
Common cold (nasopharyngitis), Diarrhea, Upper respiratory tract infection
Key warnings
Cosentyx may increase your risk of getting serious infections.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from secukinumab's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Cosentyx is a type of medicine called an interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor. IL-17A is a protein in the body that causes inflammation. Cosentyx blocks IL-17A, which helps to reduce inflammation and the symptoms of certain diseases.
How to Take It
Cosentyx can be given as a shot under the skin (subcutaneous injection) or through a needle into your vein (intravenous infusion). Before starting Cosentyx, you need to get all your vaccines and be tested for tuberculosis (TB). Your doctor will tell you how much Cosentyx to take and how often. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
This is a plain-language summary of secukinumab's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Cosentyx will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Cosentyx if you are breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of secukinumab's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Cosentyx, take it as soon as you remember. Then, continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of secukinumab's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Keep Cosentyx in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C) in its original container to protect from light. Do not freeze or shake.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 157,236 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for secukinumab, by number of reports
- Psoriasis
Psoriasis
22,567 reports
- Pain
Pain
16,136 reports
- Joint pain
Joint pain
14,488 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
10,192 reports
- Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
9,805 reports
- Itching
Itching
9,168 reports
- Feeling unwell
Feeling unwell
9,100 reports
- Skin rash 8,709
Skin rash
8,709 reports
- Condition getting worse 8,206
Condition getting worse
8,206 reports
- Diarrhea 7,681
Diarrhea
7,681 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for secukinumab each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where secukinumab sits
secukinumab has more FDA adverse-event reports than 92% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is secukinumab; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 157,236 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2012–2025.
Total Reports
157,236
Reports Mentioning Death
7,752
4.9% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
20,636
Top Indication
Psoriasis
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | PSORIASIS | 22,567 |
| 3 | PAIN | 16,136 |
| 4 | ARTHRALGIA | 14,488 |
| 5 | FATIGUE | 10,192 |
| 6 | PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY | 9,805 |
| 7 | PRURITUS | 9,168 |
| 8 | MALAISE | 9,100 |
| 9 | RASH | 8,709 |
| 10 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 8,206 |
| 11 | DIARRHOEA | 7,681 |
| 12 | NASOPHARYNGITIS | 7,487 |
| 13 | PAIN IN EXTREMITY | 7,099 |
| 14 | HEADACHE | 6,938 |
| 16 | JOINT SWELLING | 6,317 |
| 17 | MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS | 6,143 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Cosentyx may increase your risk of getting serious infections. Tell your doctor if you have any infections or a history of infections. If you have a serious allergic reaction, stop using Cosentyx right away and get medical help.
Common Questions
What should I do if I have an allergic reaction to Cosentyx?
Can Cosentyx be used in children?
Does Cosentyx interact with other medications?
How is Cosentyx given?
What if I have a chronic infection?
Can I get live vaccines while taking Cosentyx?
What are the common side effects of Cosentyx?
What should I do if I develop an infection while taking Cosentyx?
How should I store Cosentyx?
What if I have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?
What are the common side effects of secukinumab?
What drug class is secukinumab?
Is secukinumab safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in IL-17A Inhibitor (Biologic)
Other drugs grouped near secukinumab - same-class peers and common alternatives.
abatacept
Orencia
Orencia is a medicine that helps to reduce inflammation.
Compare with secukinumab →
acetaminophen
Tylenol
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a medicine that can relieve pain and reduce fever.
Compare with secukinumab →
acetaminophen/hydrocodone
Vicodin, Norco
This medicine contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone.
Compare with secukinumab →
acetaminophen/oxycodone
Percocet
Percocet is a strong pain medicine.
Compare with secukinumab →
adalimumab
Humira
Idacio is a medicine that blocks a protein called TNF.
Compare with secukinumab →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on secukinumab
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for secukinumab
The FDA label for secukinumab (sold under brand names such as Cosentyx) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the IL-17A Inhibitor (Biologic) class. Cosentyx treats moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients 6 years and older. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Common cold (nasopharyngitis), Diarrhea, Upper respiratory tract infection.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 157,236 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: December 12, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages