Ixekizumab
Generic name: ixekizumab
Brand name: Taltz
Dosage form: subcutaneous injection
Drug class:Interleukin inhibitors
What is ixekizumab?
Ixekizumab is a biological medicine called a monoclonal antibody that is used to treat certain autoimmune disorders that cause inflammation.
Ixekizumab suppresses the immune system and helps to prevent inflammation. It works by binding to a protein in your body called cytokine interleukin 17A (IL-17A), preventing it from interacting with the IL-17 receptor. This blocks the release of substances called cytokine and chemokines that cause inflammation.
Ixekizumab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016. No biosimilars of ixekizumab have been approved. Biosimilars are highly similar versions of ixekizumab that are designed to have the same effect on a person, but a biosimilar is not identical to the original version of the drug.
What is ixekizumab used for?
Ixekizumab is a prescription medicine used to treat:
- people 6 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet or UV light).
- adults with active psoriatic arthritis. Ixekizumab can be used alone or with the medicine methotrexate.
- adults with active ankylosing spondylitis.
- adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation.
It is not known if ixekizumab is safe and effective in children for conditions other than plaque psoriasis or in children under 6 years of age.
Important information
Ixekizumab is a medicine that affects your immune system. Ixekizumab may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections, which can sometimes become serious.
- Your healthcare provider should check you for tuberculosis (TB) before you start treatment with ixekizumab.
- Your healthcare provider may treat you with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with ixekizumab if you have a past history of TB or have TB.
- Your healthcare provider should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during and after treatment with ixekizumab.
Before starting ixekizumab, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- are being treated for an infection
- have an infection that does not go away or that keeps coming back
- have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB
- think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as:
- fever, sweats, or chills
- muscle aches
- cough
- shortness of breath
- blood in your phlegm (mucus)
- weight loss
- warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
- diarrhea or stomach pain
- burning when you urinate or urinate more often than normal
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