How often is cosentyx administered for maintenance?

Standard Dosing Schedule for Cosentyx Maintenance

Cosentyx (secukinumab) for maintenance therapy in approved indications like plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is given as a 300 mg subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks.[1][2]

Patients self-administer after initial training, using pre-filled syringes, auto-injectors, or Sensoready pens.

How It Starts: Loading Dose Before Maintenance

Treatment begins with loading doses—typically weekly injections at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3—then shifts to every 4 weeks.[1] For some conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa, the loading phase is every 2 weeks before monthly maintenance.[2]

Dosing Adjustments by Condition

• Psoriasis (moderate to severe): 300 mg every 4 weeks; some reduce to 150 mg if well-controlled.[1]
  
• Psoriatic arthritis or axial spondyloarthritis: 150-300 mg every 4 weeks, based on weight and response.[2]
  
• Pediatric psoriasis (6+ years): Weight-based, every 4 weeks after loading.[1]
  
  Doctors may extend intervals or pause for poor response or infections.
  
  

What If a Dose Is Missed?

Inject as soon as possible, then resume every 4-week schedule. No double-dosing.[1]

Common Patient Questions on Long-Term Use

Maintenance continues indefinitely if benefits outweigh risks, with monitoring for infections or side effects like upper respiratory issues.[2] No generic or biosimilar approved yet; Novartis holds patents through 2025 in key markets.[3]

[1]: Cosentyx Prescribing Information (Novartis)
[2]: FDA Label for Secukinumab
[3]: DrugPatentWatch.com - Cosentyx Patents