Are there risks of cancer development with prolonged cosentyx use?

Short answer: There is no proven, overall increase in cancer risk with long-term Cosentyx (secukinumab) use. However, rare cancers have been reported, and the data are limited to several years of treatment.

What the data show (in general)
- Secukinumab is an IL-17A inhibitor used for plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis.
- In clinical trials and postmarketing data, the rate of malignancies in people taking Cosentyx has been similar to that expected in the general population or in patients with these conditions, and no particular cancer type has been clearly linked to Cosentyx.
- Rare cancers have been observed, as they do with many medications, but there isn’t a clear, consistent signal that Cosentyx causes cancer.

Important considerations
- If you have a current active cancer, many doctors prefer to delay starting a biologic like Cosentyx until the cancer is treated, or carefully weigh risks and benefits.
- If you’ve had cancer in the past, talk with your doctor about your history and any special cancer screening or monitoring you should do while on Cosentyx.
- The main safety concerns with Cosentyx are infections (including mucocutaneous Candida infections) and injection/site reactions. Cancer risk is a theoretical concern with any long-term immunomodulatory therapy, but current evidence does not show a clear increased risk for Cosentyx.

What you can do
- Discuss your personal cancer history and risk factors with your rheumatologist or dermatologist.
- Report new or unusual symptoms (e.g., new lumps, unexplained weight loss, persistent fever) promptly.
- Keep up with age- and risk-appropriate cancer screenings as recommended for you.
- Do not stop or start Cosentyx without talking to your clinician.

If you’d like, tell me your condition (psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or axial spondyloarthritis) and any personal cancer history, and I can tailor the information to your situation. This is general information and not a substitute for medical advice from your health care provider.