IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CONTRAINDICATIONS
ILARIS is contraindicated in patients with confirmed hypersensitivity to canakinumab or to
any of the excipients.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Serious Infections
ILARIS has been associated with an increased risk of serious infections. Exercise caution
when administering ILARIS to patients with infections, a history of recurring infections or
underlying conditions, which may predispose them to infections. Avoid administering ILARIS to
patients during an active infection requiring medical intervention. Discontinue ILARIS if a
patient develops a serious infection.
Infections, predominantly of the upper respiratory tract, in some instances serious, have
been reported with ILARIS. Generally, the observed infections responded to standard therapy.
Isolated cases of unusual or opportunistic infections (eg, aspergillosis, atypical
mycobacterial infections, cytomegalovirus, herpes zoster) were reported during ILARIS
treatment. A causal relationship of ILARIS to these events cannot be excluded. In clinical
trials, ILARIS has not been administered concomitantly with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
inhibitors. An increased incidence of serious infections has been associated with
administration of another interleukin-1 (IL-1) blocker in combination with TNF inhibitors.
Coadministration of ILARIS with TNF inhibitors is not recommended because this may increase
the risk of serious infections.
Drugs that affect the immune system by blocking TNF have been associated with an increased
risk of new tuberculosis (TB) and reactivation of latent TB. It is possible that use of IL-1 inhibitors, such as ILARIS, increases the risk of
reactivation of TB or of opportunistic infections.
Prior to initiating immunomodulatory therapies, including ILARIS, evaluate patients for
active and latent TB infection. Appropriate screening tests should be performed in all
patients. ILARIS has not been studied in patients with a positive TB screen, and the safety
of ILARIS in individuals with latent TB infection is unknown. Treat patients testing positive
in TB screening according to standard medical practice prior to therapy with ILARIS. Instruct
patients to seek medical advice if signs, symptoms, or high risk exposure suggestive of TB
(eg, persistent cough, weight loss, subfebrile temperature) appear during or after ILARIS
therapy. Healthcare providers should follow current CDC guidelines both to evaluate for and
to treat possible latent TB infections before initiating therapy with ILARIS.
Immunosuppression
The impact of treatment with anti-IL-1 therapy on the
development of malignancies is not known. However, treatment with immunosuppressants,
including ILARIS, may result in an increase in the risk of malignancies.
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with ILARIS. During clinical trials, no anaphylactic reactions attributable to treatment with canakinumab have been reported. It should be recognized that symptoms of the underlying disease being treated may be similar to symptoms of hypersensitivity. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), characterized by serious skin eruptions, has been reported in patients with autoinflammatory conditions treated with ILARIS. If a severe hypersensitivity reaction occurs, immediately discontinue ILARIS; treat promptly and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve.
Immunizations
Avoid administration of live vaccines concurrently with ILARIS. Update all recommended
vaccinations prior to initiation of therapy with ILARIS. In addition, because ILARIS may
interfere with normal immune response to new antigens, vaccinations may not be effective in
patients receiving ILARIS.
Canakinumab, like other monoclonal antibodies, is actively transported across the placenta
mainly during the third trimester of pregnancy and may cause immunosuppression in the in
utero exposed infant. The risks and benefits should be considered prior to
administering live vaccines to infants who were exposed to ILARIS in utero for at
least 4 to 12 months following the mother’s last dose of ILARIS.
Macrophage Activation Syndrome
Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) is a known, life-threatening disorder that may develop in patients with
rheumatic conditions, in particular Still’s disease, and should be aggressively treated.
Physicians should be attentive to symptoms of infection or worsening of Still’s disease as
these are known triggers for MAS. Eleven cases of MAS were observed in 201 SJIA patients
treated with canakinumab in clinical trials. Based on the clinical trial experience, ILARIS
does not appear to increase the incidence of MAS in Still’s disease patients, but no
definitive conclusion can be made.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Serious adverse reactions reported with ILARIS in the CAPS clinical trials
included infections and vertigo. The most common adverse reactions greater than 10%
associated with ILARIS treatment in CAPS patients were nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, influenza,
rhinitis, headache, nausea, bronchitis, gastroenteritis, pharyngitis, weight increased,
musculoskeletal pain, and vertigo.
The most common adverse reactions greater than or equal to 10% reported by patients with
TRAPS, HIDS/MKD, and FMF treated with ILARIS were injection site reactions and
nasopharyngitis.
The most common adverse drug reactions greater than 10% associated with ILARIS treatment in
SJIA patients were infections (nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infections),
abdominal pain, and injection site reactions.
The most common adverse reactions greater than 2% reported by adult patients with gout flares
treated with ILARIS in clinical trials were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract
infections, urinary tract infections, hypertriglyceridemia, and back pain.