Anakinra in Still’s disease: a profile of its use

Abstract

The EU indication for anakinra has been extended to include Still’s disease, a serious rare inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology that comprises adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA). As activated interleukin-1 pathways are associated with the systemic manifestations of these disorders, targeted treatment with anakinra, an interleukin-1 inhibitor, has been investigated. Across clinical and real-world studies in patients with AOSD and SJIA, treatment with anakinra achieved clinical remission/response, provided rapid and sustained improvements in systemic and laboratory manifestations, and allowed the use of corticosteroid- and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) to be reduced or discontinued. The safety profile of anakinra in the treatment of Still’s disease is consistent with that in its other approved indications.