FDA approves first drug for Still disease: Novartis's leukocyte interleukin-1 monoantigen cankinumab

Following a priority review, the U.SFood and Drugadministrationhas approved Novartis' Ilaris (canakinumab) as the first treatment for active Still disease, including adult incurable Still disease (AOSD)Photo Source:AOSD is a rare and severe spontaneous disease of unknown origin, but characterized by many similar conditions with systemic juvenile isoarthritis (SJIA), such as fever, arthritis, rashes and elevated inflammatory markersIlaris has been approved for the treatment of AOSD and SJIA, and many of the diseases are similar, suggesting that it is likely to be a continuum rather than two separate diseases, according to theFDAleukocyte interleukin-1 (IL-1) is an important regulatory agent in the body'simmunesystem, and its role has been recognized in AOSD and SJIAIlaris works by blocking the effects of IL-1 to suppress inflammation in patients with this self-inflammatory diseasein terms of safety, patients treated with Ilaris reported common side effectsinfection(cold and upper respiratory tract infections), abdominal pain and injection site reactions, a drug warning that may lead to the risk of severe infection due to blocking IL-1