Key takeaways
Tremfya (guselkumab) and Otezla (apremilast) are both medications used to treat plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis. However, they belong to different medication classes and have distinct characteristics. Tremfya is a monoclonal antibody that is administered as an injection under the skin, while Otezla is a phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor taken orally. Tremfya is additionally approved for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, whereas Otezla is also approved for treating mouth sores from Behçet’s disease. Tremfya is typically injected every 8 weeks after initial doses, while Otezla is taken orally and requires a gradual increase in dosage over the first 5 days, eventually reaching a maintenance dose taken twice daily. Tremfya is only available as a brand-name medication, making it potentially more expensive, whereas generic versions of Otezla are available. Common side effects of Tremfya include upper respiratory infections and injection site reactions, while Otezla often causes nausea and diarrhea.
