Canakinumab for the treatment of gout

Gout is the one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis in adults. As the incidence and prevalence of gout are increasing and many patients cannot tolerate or have contraindications to standard treatments, there is a need for new, more effective therapeutic agents. IL-1ββ is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis. Several inhibitors of IL-1 have been elaborated to date. Canakinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody to IL-1ββ developed by Novartis. According to recently published results of clinical trials, canakinumab may provide a safe and effective alternative treatment option for gout flares for patients in whom standard therapies are not advised.