Ustekinumab
Generic name: Ustekinumab
Brand name: Stelara
Dosage form: injection
Drug class:Interleukin inhibitors
What is ustekinumab?
Ustekinumab is a biologic drug that was originally approved by the FDA in 2009 to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Ustekinumab was developed by Janssen Biotech Inc., and is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.
Plaque psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by red, scaly patches covered with white scales. This autoimmune condition affects approximately 3% of adults in the United States. Plaque psoriasis often causes discomfort and embarrassment, and can significantly affect patients' quality of life.
Ustekinumab is now also approved to be used for psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Like psoriasis, they are autoimmune diseases.
Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to interleukins IL-12 and IL-23, two cytokines (proteins) involved in the development of autoimmune disorders. These drugs block the action of these cytokines, so helps reduce inflammation and improves the symptoms of these conditions.
What is Ustekinumab used for?
Ustekinumab is a medicine used to treat:
- moderate or severe psoriasis (patients 6 years and older)
- psoriatic arthritis (patients 18 years and older)
- moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (patients 18 years and older)
- moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (patients 18 years and older)
For moderate or severe psoriasis you will only be prescribed this medicine if your doctor believes your psoriasis will be improved by taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills).
It is not known if this medicine is safe and effective in children less than 6 years of age.
How does it work?
Cytokines IL-12 and IL-23 are substances that are involved in the inflammation and immune response. When ustekinumab binds to the p40 protein subunit that IL-12 and IL-23 use, it reduces inflammation and helps control autoimmune disorders.
Ustekinumab is a human IgG1қ monoclonal antibody that binds with specificity to the p40 protein subunit used by both the IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines.
Dosage and How will I receive ustekinumab?
If you have psoriasis you will be given ustekinumab as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Once you have had your first injection, you will have your next injection after 4 weeks, and from then on you will have an injection every 12 weeks.
If you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, your first dose given slowly as an infusion into a vein by your doctor or nurse. The next doses you have will be every 8 weeks as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection).
You will be able to inject yourself or have a caregiver give you your injection, once you have been shown how to do this by your doctor or nurse.
The dose your healthcare provider will give you will depend on how much you weigh and whether you have psoriasis, Crohn’s disease or ...
