What's the impact of cosentyx on vaccine effectiveness?

How does Cosentyx affect vaccines that use live viruses?
Cosentyx (secukinumab) belongs to a class of drugs that inhibits IL-17, an important signaling molecule in the immune system. It can weaken responses to live vaccines and therefore these vaccines should be avoided while taking the drug.

What happens if a live vaccine is given while on Cosentyx?
Patients receiving live vaccines during Cosentyx treatment may not develop adequate immunity and could risk infection from the weakened but still live pathogen.

When can patients receive live vaccines after stopping Cosentyx?
Live vaccines must be given at least four weeks before starting Cosentyx or five half-lives after stopping it. Five half-lives of Cosentyx is roughly 110 days or about 3.5 months.

What about inactivated vaccines and Cosentyx?
Inactivated vaccines remain safe to give during Cosentyx treatment. However, Cosentyx may still impair the immune system's ability to form a strong antibody response to them.

Why do patients report lower antibody levels after vaccination on Cosentyx?
Because Cosentyx targets IL-17 pathways involved in activating B-cells and producing antibodies, the drug can reduce the measured antibody titers following vaccination.

How long does the reduced vaccine response last after quitting Cosentyx?
The reduced response lasts until the drug washes out of the system and the IL-17 pathway recovers, which occurs after approximately 110 days.