Key takeaways
Tremfya (guselkumab) and Skyrizi (risankizumab) are both medications used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease, as well as ulcerative colitis. They belong to the same class of monoclonal antibodies and work by blocking interleukin-23 (IL-23) to reduce inflammation. However, they differ in several ways. Tremfya is administered as a 100 mg subcutaneous (under the skin) injection every 8 weeks after initial doses, whereas Skyrizi's dosing varies: for psoriasis and arthritis, it's 150 mg every 3 months after initial doses, and for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, it starts with intravenous (IV) infusions followed by subcutaneous injections. Both are only available as brand-name medications. Common side effects for both include upper respiratory infections and joint pain, but Skyrizi may also cause tiredness and has a rare risk of liver injury. Both medications increase the risk of infections and require caution with live vaccines.
