What is "rilonacept"

n. A particular interleukin 1 inhibitor.

Rilonacept, also known as IL-1 Trap (marketed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals under the trade name Arcalyst), is an interleukin 1 inhibitor.

Rilonacept is a dimeric fusion protein consisting of the ligand-binding domains of the extracellular portions of the human interleukin-1 receptor component (IL-1R1) and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP) linked in-line to the fragment-crystallizable portion ( Fc region) of human IgG1 that binds and neutralizes IL-1.

Rilonacept was given an " Orphan Drug" status by the United States Food and Drug Administration and is used for the treatment of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), including familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, Muckle-Wells syndrome and neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease(not approved in the U.S. on this indication).

On May 8th, 2012 an FDA Advisory Panel voted 11-0 against the approval of rilonacept for the treatment of gout, stating that the benefits did not outweigh the risks associated with the drug.