Canakinumab and Kineret

• Generic Name: canakinumab
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Ilaris

Canakinumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks certain proteins in the body that can affect inflammation and other immune responses. Canakinumab is used to treat certain types of periodic fever syndromes, sometimes called auto-inflammatory syndromes.

Periodic fever syndromes are rare and often inherited conditions caused by mutations in certain genes; usually genes that are involved in producing a certain protein or enzyme in the body. People with a periodic fever syndrome have episodes of fever and inflammation without other causes such as infection or virus.

Canakinumab is used to treat the following periodic fever syndromes in adults and children who are at least 4 years old:

• Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), including Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome and Muckle-Wells Syndrome.
• Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS).
• Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome (HIDS), also called Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD).
• Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Canakinumab is also used to treat Sudden Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) in children who are at least 2 years old.

Canakinumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

• Generic Name: anakinra
• Dosage Forms: injection, solution
• Other Brand Names: Kineret

Kineret (anakinra) reduces the actions of chemicals in the body that are involved in inflammatory and immune responses.

Kineret is used to treat the symptoms of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in adults. It may also help slow the progress of the disease. Kineret is usually given after other arthritis medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

Kineret is also used in newborn babies to treat a rare genetic condition called neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). NOMID is a form of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). This condition causes uncontrolled inflammation in many parts of the body, including the skin, joints, and central nervous system.