Secukinumab for enthesitis-related arthritis and juvenile psoriatic arthritis in children and adolescents from the age of 2 years

Secukinumab as a subcutaneous injection is in clinical development for the treatment of enthesitis related arthritis (ERA) and juvenile psoriatic arthritis (JPsA). These conditions belong to a group of arthritis conditions of unknown cause known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis which affect children. JPsA patients have arthritis and psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease and ERA patients have arthritis and enthesitis, inflammation of the ligaments and tendons. These conditions are the result of the immune system mistakenly attacking the body’s own cells at the joints and the skin or tendons, causing swelling, pain and reduced mobility.
Secukinumab is a monoclonal antibody, a type of protein, designed to recognise and attach to a messenger molecule in the immune system called interleukin 17A (IL-17). Interleukin 17A is part of the inflammation processes in ERA and JPsA, and by attaching to and blocking the action of IL-17A, secukinumab reduces the symptoms of these conditions. If licensed, secukinumab will offer a treatment option in children and adolescents with JPsA and ERA, including those whose disease has not responded to previous treatments.