Canakinumab — Membership Pricing

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About Canakinumab

Canakinumab is a powerful biologic medication that targets specific inflammatory pathways in the body. It's primarily prescribed for a range of chronic, often debilitating, inflammatory conditions that don't respond well to conventional treatments.

What Canakinumab Treats

Canakinumab is approved for the treatment of several rare autoinflammatory diseases. These include Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), such as Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS), which are characterized by recurrent fever, rash, and joint pain. It is also used for Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) and Still's disease in adults, conditions marked by persistent fever, rash, and joint inflammation. Additionally, it treats Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS), and Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome (HIDS)/Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD). In some cases, it's also approved for the treatment of gouty arthritis, specifically for patients who cannot be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or colchicine, or who have had an inadequate response to them.

How Canakinumab Works

As a monoclonal antibody, canakinumab works by selectively targeting and blocking interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a key protein (cytokine) that plays a central role in initiating and sustaining inflammation in the body. In the conditions it treats, IL-1β is overactive, leading to the characteristic symptoms. By neutralizing IL-1β, canakinumab helps to reduce inflammation, alleviate symptoms like fever and pain, and prevent disease progression. It is typically administered via subcutaneous injection, often by a healthcare professional.

Typical Costs of Canakinumab

Canakinumab is a specialty medication, and as such, it comes with a significant price tag. Without insurance or discounts, the cost for a single dose can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the dosage, frequency of administration, and the pharmacy. The annual cost can easily run into six figures, making it one of the most expensive medications on the market. These costs can be a major barrier for patients needing this vital treatment.

How TheDrugClub Can Help

The information above is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions.

What Canakinumab is approved for (FDA label)

ILARIS is an interleukin-1β blocker indicated for the treatment of: • Periodic Fever Syndromes ( 1.1 ): - Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), in adults and children 4 years of age and older, including: ◾ Familial Cold Auto-inflammatory Syndrome (FCAS) ◾ Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) - Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS) in adult and pediatric patients - Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome (HIDS)/ Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD) in adult and pediatric patients - Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in adult and pediatric patients • Active Still’s Disease, including Adult-Onset Still’s Disease (AOSD) and Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) in patients 2 years of age and older ( 1.2 ) • Gout flares in adults in whom non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colchicine are contraindicated, are not tolerated, or do not provide an adequate response, and in whom repeated courses of corticosteroids are not appropriate ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Periodic Fever Syndromes ILARIS ® (canakinumab) is an interleukin-1β (IL-1β) blocker indicated for the treatment of the following autoinflammatory Periodic Fever Syndromes: Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) ILARIS is indicated for the treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), in adults and pediatric patients 4 years of age and older, including: Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS) Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNF) Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS) ILARIS is indicated for the treatment of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS) in adult and pediatric patients.

Source: Read the full FDA label on DailyMed. Label effective date: June 8, 2026.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Dosage forms and strengths for Canakinumab (FDA label)

Injection: 150 mg/mL, clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to a slightly brownish yellow tint solution, in single-dose vials. Injection: 150 mg/mL solution in single-dose vials. ( 3 )

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: 7d271f3b-e4f9-4d80-8dcf-28d49123f80e. SPL document ID: a09d3635-1735-4ac9-884e-5c49897da6f5. Label effective date: June 8, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Adverse reactions for Canakinumab (FDA label)

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Serious Infections [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] Immunosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] Macrophage Activation Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)] CAPS: The most common adverse reactions (>10%) are nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, influenza, rhinitis, nausea, headache, bronchitis, gastroenteritis, pharyngitis, weight increased, musculoskeletal pain, and vertigo. ( 6 ) TRAPS, HIDS/MKD, and FMF: The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) are injection-site reactions and nasopharyngitis. ( 6 ) Still’s Disease: The most common adverse drug reactions (>10%) are infections (nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infections), abdominal pain, and injection-site reactions. ( 6 ) Gout Flares: The most common adverse reactions (>2%) reported by are nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, hypertriglyceridemia, and back pain. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at 1-888-669-6682 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: 7d271f3b-e4f9-4d80-8dcf-28d49123f80e. SPL document ID: a09d3635-1735-4ac9-884e-5c49897da6f5. Label effective date: June 8, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Contraindications for Canakinumab (FDA label)

Confirmed hypersensitivity to canakinumab or to any of the excipients [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Adverse Reactions (6.1)] . Confirmed hypersensitivity to canakinumab or to any of the excipients. ( 4 )

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: 7d271f3b-e4f9-4d80-8dcf-28d49123f80e. SPL document ID: a09d3635-1735-4ac9-884e-5c49897da6f5. Label effective date: June 8, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings and precautions for Canakinumab (FDA label)

Serious Infections: ILARIS has been associated with an increased incidence 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. Discontinue ILARIS if a patient develops a serious infection. Avoid administering ILARIS to patients during an active infection requiring medical intervention. ( 5.1 ) Hypersensitivity Reactions and Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) can occur; discontinue ILARIS, treat promptly, and monitor until reaction resolves. ( 5.3 ) Immunizations: Avoid administration of live vaccines concurrently with ILARIS. Update all recommended vaccinations prior to initiation of therapy with ILARIS. ( 5.4 ) 5.1 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.

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: 7d271f3b-e4f9-4d80-8dcf-28d49123f80e. SPL document ID: a09d3635-1735-4ac9-884e-5c49897da6f5. Label effective date: June 8, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions for Canakinumab (FDA label)

Interactions between ILARIS and other medicinal products have not been investigated in formal studies. 7.1 TNF-Blocker and IL-1 Blocking Agent An increased incidence of serious infections and an increased risk of neutropenia have been associated with administration of another IL-1 blocker in combination with TNF inhibitors in another patient population. Use of ILARIS with TNF inhibitors may also result in similar toxicities and is not recommended because this may increase the risk of serious infections [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . The concomitant administration of ILARIS with other drugs that block IL-1 has not been studied.

Source: FDA prescribing information (DailyMed). Set ID: 7d271f3b-e4f9-4d80-8dcf-28d49123f80e. SPL document ID: a09d3635-1735-4ac9-884e-5c49897da6f5. Label effective date: June 8, 2026. Read the full label.

Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information. This is not medical advice; talk to your doctor or pharmacist.