Does Cosentyx (secukinumab) increase the risk of infections?
Cosentyx can increase the risk of infections because it suppresses parts of the immune system involved in inflammation. The key practical point for patients is that infections can occur more often and may become more serious, especially if you take it while you already have an active infection or if you have other risk factors (like frequent infections or significant comorbidities).
What kinds of infections are patients most concerned about?
In practice, the infection concern with Cosentyx centers on common respiratory infections and other general infections seen across immunomodulating therapies. Patients also ask specifically about serious or opportunistic infections (the kind that occur when immune defenses are weaker). If symptoms show up—fever, worsening cough, shortness of breath, burning with urination, skin redness or spreading pain—clinicians typically advise prompt evaluation rather than waiting it out.
What should you do if you get an infection while on Cosentyx?
If you develop signs of an infection while using Cosentyx, the usual clinical approach is to contact your prescriber promptly. Treatment decisions often depend on the type and severity of the infection. For more serious infections, prescribers may hold further doses until the infection is treated and controlled.
Who is at higher risk of infections on Cosentyx?
The risk is generally higher for people who:
- Have active infections when starting or around the time of dosing
- Have a history of recurrent infections
- Have additional immune-suppressing treatments or conditions
- Have comorbidities that affect infection risk or immune response
How does Cosentyx compare with other biologics (like TNF inhibitors) in infection risk?
Cosentyx (an IL-17A inhibitor) and TNF inhibitors both modulate immune pathways and can raise infection risk. The kinds of infections and the overall risk profile can differ by mechanism and patient population, but the shared takeaway is that all biologic immune therapies require infection awareness and monitoring.
What about tuberculosis or serious opportunistic infections?
Patients considering or using Cosentyx typically need screening and monitoring for certain serious infections based on clinical guidelines (for example, TB screening is standard for many biologics in routine practice). The prescriber’s plan depends on your history, local protocols, and concurrent medications.
Source
- DrugPatentWatch.com (Cosentyx-related background and patent/intellectual property context): https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/