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Ilumya

Generic name: tildrakizumab [ TIL-dra-KIZ-ue-mab ]
Drug class: Interleukin inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Feb 12, 2024.

What is Ilumya?

Ilumya reduces the effects of a substance in the body that can cause inflammation.

Ilumya injection is a prescription medicine used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis in adults who may benefit from receiving injections, pills, or treatment using ultraviolet or UV light phototherapy).

Ilumya may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

Ilumya affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily. Call your doctor if you have a fever, chills, aches, cough, shortness of breath, skin sores, diarrhea, weight loss, or burning when you urinate.

Before receiving this medicine

You should not be treated with Ilumya if you are allergic to tildrakizumab

Tell your doctor if you have a chronic infection, or if you are scheduled to receive any vaccine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, or if anyone in your household has tuberculosis.

It is not known whether Ilumya will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It may not be safe to breast-feed while using tildrakizumab. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Ilumya is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Ilumya pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)

How is Ilumya given?

Ilumya is given as an injection under your skin (subcutaneous injection) in areas of your body such as your thighs, stomach area (abdomen), or upper arm.

A healthcare provider will administer your Ilumya injection.

Before you start treatment with Ilumya, your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have tuberculosis or other infections.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose of Ilumya for Plaque Psoriasis:

100 mg subcutaneously at Weeks 0 and 4, and every 12 weeks thereafter

Comments:
-Evaluate patients for tuberculosis (TB) infection prior to initiating therapy.

Use: For adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy

Administration advice:
-Ilumya should only be administered by a healthcare provider.
-Before injection, remove carton from the refrigerator, and let the prefilled syringe (in the carton with the lid closed) sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
-Follow the instructions on the carton to remove the prefilled syringe correctly, and remove only when ready to inject. Do not pull off the needle cover until you are ready to inject.
-Inspect the syringe visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. The product is a clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to slightly yellow solution. Do not use if the liquid contains visible particles or the syringe is damaged. Air bubbles may be present; there is no need to remove them.
-Choose an injection site with clear skin and easy access (such as abdomen, thighs, or upper arm). Do not administer 2 inches around the navel or where the skin is tender, bruised, erythematous, indurated, or affected by psoriasis. Do not inject into scars, stretch marks, or blood vessels.
-While holding the body of the syringe, pull the needle cover straight off (do not twist) and discard.
-Inject the full amount (1 mL), which provides 100 mg of drug per syringe.
-Press down the blue plunger until it can go no further. This activates the safety mechanism that will ensure full retraction of the needle after the injection is given.
-Remove the needle from the skin entirely before letting go of the blue plunger. After the blue plunger is released, the safely lock will draw the needle inside the needle guard.
-If a dose is missed, administer the dose as soon as possible; thereafter, resume dosing at the regularly scheduled interval.

Detailed Ilumya dosage information

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a follow-up appointment and do not receive your dose, schedule another appointment as soon as possible.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while receiving Ilumya?

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Ilumya. The vaccine may not work as well and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).

What are the side effects of Ilumya?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Ilumya: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as:

Common Ilumya side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Ilumya side effects (more detail)

What other drugs will affect Ilumya?

Other drugs may interact with tildrakizumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Ilumya drug interactions (more detail)

Popular FAQ

There are a number of differences between Skyrizi and Ilumya:

  • Ilumya was FDA approved in 2018 and Skyrizi was FDA approved in 2019.
  • Ilyumya is a brand name for tildrakizumab and Skyrizi is a brand name for risankizumab
  • The dose of Skyrizi is 150mg, but because each injection only contains 75mg, two injections must be given per dose. The dose of Ilumya is 100mg, and each injection contains 100mg therefore only one injection needs to be given each time
  • Ilumya needs to be administered by a healthcare professional; however, patients prescribed Skyrizi can be taught how to self-administer it at home
  • Skyrizi is also approved to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Continue reading

Ilumya is not approved by the FDA to treat psoriatic arthritis, but studies for this use are ongoing. Illumya is only approved to treat plaque psoriasis at this time. Your doctor may decide, based on their medical judgement, to prescribe Ilumya off-label for other conditions. Continue reading

There have been few comparative trials comparing Ilumya to other biologics used for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis. The joint AAD and NPF guidelines conclude that all 11 biologics have grade A evidence for efficacy as monotherapy in plaque psoriasis and a person’s medical and social should be taken into account when choosing a biologic. Certain biologics may be preferred in people who are overweight because they use weight-based dosing (such as infliximab or Stelara), whereas others may be preferred in those with poor compliance because they are dosed every 12 weeks (such as Stelara, Skyrizi or Ilumya). Continue reading

It takes approximately 12 weeks for Ilumya to start working with nearly 60% of people experiencing a 75% reduction in the severity of their psoriasis within that time; however, it may take over a year for the full benefits to be seen. Continue reading

Ilumya affects the immune system by blocking the effects of IL-23, a proinflammatory cytokine that helps to regulate inflammation associated with autoimmune conditions, such as psoriasis) as well as bacterial and viral infections. By blocking the effects of IL-23, Ilumya increases your risk of developing infections and may cause the reactivation of latent tuberculosis; however, the risk of serious infections is low (0.3%) and the same as placebo. Continue reading

Ilumya works by binding selectively to interleukin-23 (IL-23) which is a naturally occurring cytokine. IL-23 plays a key role in promoting inflammation and regulating other cytokines (such as IL-17) and inflammatory substances, such as TNF-α3-7. By blocking the effects of IL-23, Ilumya helps control the release of IL-17 and TNF-α, which reduces inflammation associated with psoriasis. It also decreases how many inflammatory cells are present within psoriatic lesions, helps prevent plaque formation, and resolves tissue damage. Continue reading

Upper respiratory infections, injection site reactions, and diarrhea are the most commonly reported side effects of Ilumya. Continue reading

Ilumya is given as by subcutaneous injection by a healthcare professional into an area of undamaged skin such as the abdomen (stomach), thighs, or upper arm. Continue reading

More FAQ

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Ilumya only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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