Use of Canakinumab in the Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome

The cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is a rare inherited inflammatory disease associated with overproduction of interleukin-1. Canakinumab is a human anti-interleukin-1beta monoclonal antibody.

We performed a three-part, 48-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal study of canakinumab in patients with CAPS. In part 1, 35 patients received 150 mg of canakinumab subcutaneously. Those with a complete response to treatment entered part 2 and were randomly assigned to receive either 150 mg of canakinumab or placebo every 8 weeks for up to 24 weeks. After the completion of part 2 or at the time of relapse, whichever occurred first, patients proceeded to part 3 and received at least two more doses of canakinumab. We evaluated therapeutic responses using disease-activity scores and analysis of levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA).