IL1B interleukin 1 beta
ENSG00000125538 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Potent pro-inflammatory cytokine (PubMed:10653850, PubMed:12794819, PubMed:28331908, PubMed:3920526). Initially discovered as the major endogenous pyrogen, induces prostaglandin synthesis, neutrophil influx and activation, T-cell activation and cytokine production, B-cell activation and antibody production, and fibroblast proliferation and collagen production (PubMed:3920526). Promotes Th17 differentiation of T-cells. Synergizes with IL12/interleukin-12 to induce IFNG synthesis from T-helper 1 (Th1) cells (PubMed:10653850). Plays a role in angiogenesis by inducing VEGF production synergistically with TNF and IL6 (PubMed:12794819). Involved in transduction of inflammation downstream of pyroptosis: its mature form is specifically released in the extracellular milieu by passing through the gasdermin-D (GSDMD) pore (PubMed:33377178, PubMed:33883744). Acts as a sensor of S.pyogenes infection in skin: cleaved and activated by pyogenes SpeB protease, leading to an inflammatory response that prevents bacterial growth during invasive skin infection (PubMed:28331908). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10653850, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12794819, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28331908, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33377178, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33883744, ECO:0000269|PubMed:3920526}.
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand
- Antibody
- Approved Drug, UniProt loc high conf, GO CC high conf, UniProt loc med conf
- PROTAC
- Small Molecule Binder
- Other modalities
- Approved Drug
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.42006999254226685 (upper bound 0.6953200101852417). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
Principal investigators and study chairs on 41 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against IL1B (canakinumab, lutikizumab, gevokizumab), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Oksana A. MarkovaJSC GENERIUM · 1 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Anne Sophie KubaschUniversity Leipzig · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- David A SallmanMoffitt Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Guillermo Garcia-ManeroM.D. Anderson Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Jeffrey R CurtisFoundation for Advancing Science Technology Education and Research · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Jianjun ZhangM.D. Anderson Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Jonathan SamuelsNYU Langone Health · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Marc Y DonathUniversity of Basel · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Mark ThurszImperial College London · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Narek ShaverdianMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Peter G ShieldsOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Uma M BorateOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Anna BerkenbiltPancreatic Cancer Action Network · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Karie D. RuncieColumbia University · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Paul ObersteinPerlmutter New York University Cancer Center · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of canakinumab, lutikizumab, gevokizumab updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 23 of 41 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
38 trials of drugs against IL1B were stopped early; 19 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of canakinumab, lutikizumab, gevokizumab, CDP-484, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 25 most recent of 38.
- terminated · 2026-06-17 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · canakinumab, canakinumab-matching placebo“Results of primary analysis showed addition of canakinumab to combination treatment did not improve tumor response or overall survival; the decision to stop the trial was not due to safety concerns”
- terminated · 2025-10-24 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · canakinumab“Sponsor Decision”
- terminated · 2025-10-16 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Canakinumab“Terminated by Sponsor”
- terminated · 2025-10-10 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · canakinumab“Business reasons”
- terminated · 2025-05-18 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · canakinumab“This was a sponsor decision and was not a consequence of any safety concern”
- terminated · 2025-04-29 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Canakinumab (ACZ885)“The study got terminated based on result from primary endpoint analysis”
- terminated · 2024-10-09 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Canakinumab“Upon review of the primary analysis results, the benefit-risk was assessed by the Steering Committee Members with the decision that the study will be closed. No new safety signals were observed for canakinumab.”
- terminated · 2024-06-20 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Canakinumab“Study early terminated due to low enrollment compared to the anticipated figures.”
- terminated · 2024-05-06 · University of Leipzig · Canakinumab Injection“Slow recruitment. It is not considered likely that the CANFIRE trial will be able to reach the target number of patients. Clinical responders will be further treated within the trial (expected duration: 3 years after stop of enrollment).”
- terminated · 2023-08-21 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Canakinumab“The study was early terminated due to the lack of efficacy of study treatment observed in the analysis of the primary endpoint of the randomized part”
- terminated · 2023-02-13 · Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research · Canakinumab“Novartis has decided to terminate the trial due to the recent results made available from the Novartis CANOPY A study (CACZ885T2301), this decision is not related to any safety data for Canakinumab”
- withdrawn · 2022-11-04 · NSABP Foundation Inc · Gevokizumab“Study drug not available for the study duration.”
- terminated · 2022-08-15 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Canakinumab“Recruitment halted prematurely due to competitive landscape for lung cancer therapies”
- terminated · 2021-09-17 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Data did not show that the two biologic treatments impacted PMR disease activity to the same degree as steroid treatment within a 2-week treatment period.”
- terminated · 2021-06-10 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · CanakinumabNo reason given
- terminated · 2021-01-05 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“The results of a third interim analysis (ad hoc) indicated a lack of efficacy and futility in continuing the trial.”
- terminated · 2020-08-07 · Charite University, Berlin, Germany · Canakinumab“Recruitment issues due to marketing authorization of study drug”
- terminated · 2020-01-03 · Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier · GevokizumabNo reason given
- terminated · 2020-01-03 · Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier · GevokizumabNo reason given
- withdrawn · 2017-07-02 · National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2017-06-08 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Canakinumab, ACZ885No reason given
- withdrawn · 2017-04-20 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2017-03-29 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · Canakinumab“recommendation by Data Monitoring Committee”
- withdrawn · 2017-02-17 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · CanakinumabNo reason given
- terminated · 2017-02-14 · University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · CanakinumabNo reason given
Paediatric incentives and obligations for IL1B's drugs
For canakinumab, lutikizumab, gevokizumab, CDP-484: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: no · IL1B is not on the listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: yes · EMEA-003481-PIP01-23 (lutikizumab, Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 6 May 2024; EMEA-000060-PIP09-20 (canakinumab, Treatment of Schnitzler Syndrome): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 17 Mar 2021; EMEA-000060-PIP08-19 (canakinumab, Treatment of lung carcinoma): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 29 Jan 2020; EMEA-000060-PIP07-19 (canakinumab, Treatment of gout): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 7 Nov 2019; +6 moreRule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/14/1311 withdrawn 22 Aug 2014: Treatment of Schnitzler syndrome; EU/3/13/1111 withdrawn 12 Mar 2013: Treatment of chronic non-infectious uveitis; EU/3/12/1071 withdrawn 8 Nov 2012: Treatment of tumour-necrosis-factor-receptor-associated periodic syndromeRule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: yes · Ilaris: authorised since 23 Oct 2009; Canakinumab Novartis: application withdrawnRule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of canakinumab, lutikizumab, gevokizumab, cdp-484Rule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-12
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 31 interventional studies of canakinumab, lutikizumab, gevokizumab, cdp-484 include patients under 18; 1 is recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-12
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 5 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.