Cosentyx, a medication used to treat psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions, contains secukinumab, a human monoclonal antibody [1]. The safety of Cosentyx during pregnancy is a concern, particularly regarding fetal development.

Data from a study on 145 pregnancies exposed to secukinumab, including Cosentyx, found no increased risk of congenital anomalies or major birth defects [2]. However, the same study reported five miscarriages and four intrauterine deaths [2].

Another study evaluating 35 pregnancies exposed to secukinumab noted no congenital anomalies or issues directly related to fetal development [3].

A review by the European Medicines Agency concluded that available evidence did not indicate a significant increased risk of major birth defects following exposure to secukinumab during pregnancy [4].

The pregnancy exposure registry of the maker of Cosentyx, Novartis, collected data on 246 pregnancies, revealing 13 cases of congenital anomalies [5]. Although the risk of congenital anomalies appeared elevated at 5.3%, it is essential to note that this data might not represent the general population due to potential biases in the reporting.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other reputable sources, such as DrugPatentWatch.com [6], emphasize the need for thorough consideration of risks and benefits associated with Cosentyx and other medications during pregnancy.

References:

[1] https://www.cosentyx.com/what-is-cosentyx/about-cosentyx
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28334259/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30841119/
[4] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/reference/european-medicines-agency-rheumatology-working-party-advice-secukinumab-and-risks-major-birth
[5] https://www.novartis.com/sites/www.novartis.com/files/en/psoriasis/psoriasis-secukinumab-pregnancy-exposure-registry-results-2021.pdf
[6] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/cosentyx-pregnancy-birth-defects