Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Cosentyx vs. Humira

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Cosentyx (secukinumab) and Humira (adalimumab) are both injectable medications used to treat various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, but they work differently and have different uses. Cosentyx is an interleukin 17 (IL-17) inhibitor, while Humira is a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) that blocks tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Cosentyx is typically injected once monthly, whereas Humira is usually injected every other week. Cosentyx is used for conditions like plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Humira treats a broader range of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Both medications can be used in children for certain conditions. Serious side effects for these medicatons include an increased risk of infections, but Humira also has warnings about potential risks for certain cancers and heart failure.

Cosentyx (secukinumab)
Humira (adalimumab)
Cosentyx (secukinumab)
Humira (adalimumab)

Summary of Cosentyx vs. Humira

Summary for Interleukin 17 (IL-17) inhibitor
Prescription only

Cosentyx (secukinumab) is a monoclonal antibody known as an interleukin 17 (IL-17) inhibitor. It's used to treat several inflammatory conditions, including plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Cosentyx (secukinumab) comes as a pre-filled pen and syringe, and is typically injected under the skin monthly. It can also be given as an infusion through the veins by a healthcare provider for certain conditions, usually in a clinic setting. Side effects aren't common, but can include the common cold and diarrhea.

Summary for Biologic DMARD
Prescription only

Humira (adalimumab) is an injectable medication used for treating many different autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and plaque psoriasis. It's usually given every other week, and it can be used alone or taken with methotrexate or other non-biologic medications. This medication is available as many different brands (or biosimilars).

Indications of Cosentyx vs. Humira

Indications for
•Plaque psoriasis (PsO) in people ages 6 years and older
•Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in people ages 2 years and older who weigh at least 33 lbs
•Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults
•Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in adults
•Enthesitis-related arthritis in people ages 4 years and older who weigh at least 33 lbs
•Hidradenitis suppurativa in adults
Indications for
•Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - adults only
•Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) - people age 2 and older
•Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) - adults only
•Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) - adults only
•Crohn's disease (CD) - people age 6 and older
•Ulcerative colitis (UC) - people age 5 and older
•Plaque psoriasis - adults only
•Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) - people age 12 and older
•Uveitis - people age 2 and older

Pros and Cons of Cosentyx vs. Humira

Pros and Const for Interleukin 17 (IL-17) inhibitor
Pros
•Works well to treat several different inflammatory problems
•Injected monthly (after the loading doses)
•Available as a prefilled syringe or Sensoready pen for easy at-home injections
•Can be used in children (for plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and enthesitis-related arthritis)
Cons
•Only available as injections
•Raises the risk of infections
•Can worsen inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (e.g., ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) symptoms
•Pens and prefilled syringes not appropriate for those with latex allergy
Pros and Const for Biologic DMARD
Pros
•Can be used for many autoimmune conditions
•Available as a ready-to-use pen that makes it easier to self-inject at home
•Can be used in young children (as young as 2 years old for some conditions)
•Only needs to be injected a couple times a month
•Can be left at room temperature for up to 14 days if needed
Cons
•Raises the risk of serious infections
•Might raise the risk of lymphoma and skin cancers
•Might be difficult to inject for some people
•Can't receive any live vaccines while taking the medication
•Contains rubber or latex, which can cause a reaction for those with an allergy

Common Side Effects of Cosentyx vs. Humira

Common Side Effects for
•Common cold (12%)
•Diarrhea (4%)
•Upper respiratory infections (3%)

Note: Side effects listed were reported by adults who took Cosentyx (secukinumab) for PsO in clinical trials.

Common Side Effects for
•Injection-site reaction (20%)
•Upper respiratory tract infection (17%)
•Headache (12%)
•Rash (12%)
•Sinus inflammation (11%)
•Accidental injury (10%)
•Nausea (9%)
•Urinary tract infection (UTI) or bladder infection (8%)

Warnings of Cosentyx vs. Humira

Common Side Effects for
•Infections
•Caution when getting vaccines
•Allergic and skin reactions
•Worsening of inflammatory bowel disease
Common Side Effects for
•Serious infections
•Cancers
•Severe allergic reactions
•Nervous system effects
•Low blood cell counts
•Heart failure
•Live vaccines

Prices with our coupons for Cosentyx vs. Humira

Learn more about Cosentyx
Learn more about Humira

Compare other Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis drugs

Bimzelx vs CosentyxCosentyx vs HumiraCosentyx vs TremfyaDuobrii vs CosentyxEnbrel vs Cosentyx
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.