The safety of canakinumab in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and autoinflammatory diseases in pediatric patients: a multicenter study

Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2023 Jul-Dec;23(12):1299-1306. doi: 10.1080/14712598.2023.2282133. Epub 2023 Dec 28.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the safety of canakinumab using real-world data in patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and autoinflammatory diseases (AID).

Research design and methods: This was a cross-sectional observational, multicenter study. Patients diagnosed with AID and sJIA treated with canakinumab were included in the study. The participating 13 centers retrospectively collected their patients' data.

Results: A total of 335 patients were involved in the study. Among these patients, 280 were in the AID group and 55 were in the sJIA group. Canakinumab was administered at a median dose of 3 (2.5-4) mg/kg. The median total exposure time to canakinumab was 1.9 (0.8-3.2) years, corresponding to 759.5 patient-years. Seven hundred and seventy-nine total adverse events (AE) were identified. The total incidence of AE, and serious adverse events (SAE) throughout the study period was 1.02 per patient-years. The upper respiratory tract infection rate was 0.7 per patient-years, while the other infection rate was 0.13 per patient-years. While no death was observed in any patient, SAE were observed in 8 patients. Interstitial lung disease, anaphylaxis, or anaphylactoid reactions were not observed in any patient.

Conclusions: Real-life data from a large cohort of patients suggests that canakinumab is as safe as claimed in clinical trials.

Keywords: Canakinumab; autoinflammatory diseases; safety; systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Arthritis, Juvenile* / drug therapy
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • canakinumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal