New drugs can prevent the cellular signaling of Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in CAPS patients. ARCALYST (Rilonacept), made by Regeneron, is the first and FDA approved drug to treat two forms of CAPS, Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) and Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS). Arcalyst has proven to be very effective in treating FCAS and MWS, with a great reduction in inflammation and a decrease in symptoms. (Please see our Links section for more information and links regarding this medication.) Arcalyst is approved by the FDA for patients with CAPS that are 12 years and older. The drug is given as a weekly subcutaneous injection. Arcalyst Drug Information.
http://www.regeneron.com/arcalyst.html
Ilaris (Canakinumab)
The newest FDA-approved treatment for CAPS disorders is Ilaris (canakinumab) a monoclonal antibody against IL-1ß. This drug was approved in June of 2009 for patients with Muckle Wells (MWS) and Familial Cold AUtoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS) forms of CAPS in the US, and was approved for all forms of CAPS (including NOMID/CINCA) in Switzerland in the summer of 2009. Ilaris is approved for use in patients with CAPS that are 4 years of age or older, and is given as one subcutaneous injection every 8 weeks. This drug will be available in the Fall of 2009 worldwide. Ilaris Drug Information.
Kineret (Anakinra)-currently used as an off label prescription for CAPS
Anakinra (Kineret) made by Biovitrum, is an Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) receptor antagonist drug that has been found to block receptors for IL-1ß in the body with patients with NOMID/CINCA. (See Research Findings. page for details on one of the many clinical trials with Kineret for CAPS). Currently this drug is prescribed for patients with all forms of CAPS as an "off-label" prescription, which means that the drug has not been classified by the FDA yet for use in CAPS, however substantial research has been done on this medication, and it used to be the only medication that was available to counteract IL-1ß prior to the development of Arcalyst and Ilaris. Anakinra Drug Information.
