Rilonacept Mechanism of Action

Rilonacept (Arcalyst^®) is a medication used to treat a rare group of symptoms that cause inflammation in the body. Specifically, the drug is used to treat familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), both of which belong to a group of hereditary autoinflammatory conditions called cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). This prescription drug is an interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) blocker. But how does rilonacept work?

 

Rilonacept works by blocking the actions of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a certain protein of the immune system that causes inflammation in the body. People with CAPS have increased levels of IL-1β, which leads to inflammation in the body. By blocking the action of IL-1β, rilonacept reduces inflammation and symptoms associated with CAPS.