How does Taltz compare to Cosentyx for psoriatic arthritis?

Taltz and Cosentyx are similar in the way they work, their side effects, and their potential for interactions, but Taltz does appear to provide patients with psoriatic arthritis (PA) with more quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) compared with Cosentyx at a marginally lower cost. Cosentyx may have a quicker onset of effect.

Both Taltz and Cosentyx may be used to treat adults with psoriatic arthritis but Cosentyx is also approved for children with psoriatic arthritis over the age of 6. They both belong to the same class of medicines called interleukin inhibitors and work in the same way, that is to selectively bind to interleukin 17A (IL-17A) to reduce inflammation. Interleukin inhibitors are considered a breakthrough in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treatment because research has discovered that immune cell TH17 was a major cause of psoriasis and that interleukin-17A was the most abundant cytokine produced by TH17 cells.

• Side effects of Cosentyx and Taltz that are similar include infections (such as those affecting the lungs, nose, or skin), or a stuffy or runny nose. Cosentyx is more likely to cause nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, oral herpes, and urticaria and Taltz is more likely to cause nausea and has a higher incidence of injection site reactions.
• Interactions, with medicines such as immunosuppressants, warfarin, and live vaccines are similar with Cosentyx and Taltz
• Both are injections that need to be stored in the refrigerator at 2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF) before use.
• Both start working within a few weeks but it may take up to 4 months for the full effects of Cosentyx to be seen and up to 6 months for the full effects of Taltz to develop.
• Both Taltz and Cosentyx are associated with an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease. Report any symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, blood in the stool, or weight loss to your doctor.

Differences in effectiveness

Very few studies have directly compared Cosentyx with Taltz with regards to psoriatic arthritis. Taltz provided more quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) compared with Cosentyx to patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and concomitant moderate to severe plaque psoriasis at a marginally lower cost in one study published in PharmacoEconomics.

Another study that investigated patients with psoriasis reported that Cosentyx and Taltz were both highly effective in the short- and long-term treatment of psoriasis but that Cosentyx had a more rapid onset and Taltz longer effectiveness.

Other differences

Other differences between Cosentyx and Taltz include:

• Cosentyx is a brand (trade) name for secukinumab and Taltz is a brand (trade) name for ixekizumab. Both are interleukin inhibitors
• Cosentyx is available as a Sensoready pen and prefilled syringe. Taltz is available as the Taltz Autoinjector and the Taltz prefilled syringe. People can be taught how to self-administer these
• Cosentyx requires two injections per dose to be given because each injection is only 150mg, and 300mg is the usual dose
• Apart from the very first dose of Taltz which requires two 80mg injections to make 160mg, every other dose of Taltz is just one injection of 80mg
• The recommended dose of Cosentyx is 300 mg by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by 300 mg every 4 weeks
• The recommended dose of Taltz is 160 mg (two 80 mg injections) at Week 0, followed by 80 mg at Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, then 80 mg every 4 weeks
• Cosentyx should be thrown away if stored unrefrigerated for a single period of more than 4 days at room temperature, not above 30°C. Taltz can remain out of the refrigerator for up to five days at room temperature, not above 30°C
• Natural rubber latex is contained in the removable cap of the Cosentyx Sensoready pen and the Cosentyx prefilled syringe. This may cause an allergic reaction in latex-sensitive individuals if they handle the cap. Taltz injections do not contain latex.

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