Is it safe to breastfeed while taking cosentyx?

Is it safe to breastfeed while taking Cosentyx?

Drug levels in breast milk
Secukinumab, the active substance in Cosentyx, has not been measured in human breast milk. Animal studies show the drug can pass into milk, but it is not known how much, if any, reaches a nursing infant.

Infant exposure and monitoring
Because the drug is a large protein, only tiny amounts are expected to reach the baby. Still, infants should be watched for signs of infection or unusual reactions while the mother continues treatment.

Alternative treatments
Doctors sometimes switch patients to drugs with more lactation data, such as certain TNF inhibitors, if breastfeeding safety is the main concern.

How long after the last dose is it considered safe?
The drug’s half-life is about 25–30 days, so it can remain in the body for several months. No official “wash-out” period has been set for breastfeeding.

Patent and market status
The main U.S. patent for Cosentyx expires in 2028, with possible pediatric extensions. After expiry, biosimilars could lower cost and expand access, but none are approved yet.

Who makes Cosentyx?
Novartis Pharmaceuticals holds the original approval and markets the product worldwide.

When do patients typically ask about breastfeeding?
Questions often arise right after diagnosis or when planning pregnancy, because stopping therapy can trigger disease flares in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis.

What happens if a patient stops Cosentyx to breastfeed?
Flare risk rises quickly once treatment is paused, sometimes within weeks, so many clinicians favor continuing therapy and monitoring the infant instead.

Can biosimilars change this advice?
Future biosimilars will need their own lactation studies. Until those data exist, guidance is likely to stay the same as for the reference product.

Sources
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drug/cosentyx