Canakinumab: New treatment choice for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic disease in children and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) accounts for 6-15% of the patients. It was found that there was spontaneous expression of IL-1ß in patients with sJIA. Canakinumab (ACZ885, Canakinumab) is a human anti-IL-1ß monoclonal antibody. Its mode of action is based on the neutralization of IL-1ß signaling which may result in the suppression of inflammation process in patients with disorders of autoinflammatory origin including sJIA. In addition to its use in the treatment of CAPS (cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes) and acute gouty arthritis flares in many countries, the drug provides significant advantages over existing competitive therapies, including monthly SC administration and favorable safety profile. © 2015 Future Medicine Ltd