What happens if Cosentyx is not refrigerated?

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Cosentyx is a human monoclonal antibody, which is a man-made protein that may degrade (breakdown) if it is not refrigerated or if it has been exposed to heat, sunlight, or extreme cold. Even shaking Cosentyx may cause degradation. It is very important that you store your Cosentyx pen or prefilled syringe correctly in the refrigerator at 2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF) until you need to use it.

When you need to use your Cosentyx pen/syringe, take it out of the refrigerator and give it 15 to 30 minutes to warm up to room temperature (not above 30°C). This will reduce the risk of stinging. Do not warm in any other way, such as by putting in hot water or in the microwave, because this can reduce the activity of Cosentyx and damage the pen/syringe.

Try to use Cosentyx within an hour of removing it from the refrigerator. If you inadvertently leave it out of the refrigerator for longer, the manufacturer advises that the pre-filled syringe or SensoReady pen may be stored unrefrigerated for a single period of up to 4 days at room temperature, not above 30°C. Throw Cosentyx away if it has been left out of the fridge for more than 4 days. Cosentyx does not contain preservatives and microbial contamination may also occur with improper storage conditions.

It is important that monoclonal antibodies, such as Cosentyx, are stored within the recommended temperature and pH ranges to maintain stability of the protein, retain activity, and prevent aggregation. Cosentyx in vials has been lyophilized (freeze-dried) which also increases stability.

Cosentyx is a biologic therapy that contains secukinumab, a human monoclonal antibody. It works by selectively binding to interleukin 17A (Il-17A), reducing inflammation which is characteristic of conditions such as plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Room temperature, sunlight, extreme cold, or heat will break down the protein and destroy it. Throw Cosentyx away if it has been frozen or improperly stored or call your pharmacy or Novartis for advice.