Skyrizi
Skyrizi (risankizumab or risankizumab-rzaa) is an injection used to treat different inflammatory conditions in adults. This includes plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. It belongs to the drug class called interleukin antagonists. It works to lower inflammation and relieve symptoms. After the first few doses, you usually get the Skyrizi (risankizumab) injection every 2 or 3 months. This medication can raise your risk of infection as a side effect.
What is Skyrizi (risankizumab)?
What is Skyrizi (risankizumab) used for?
- Moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults
- Psoriatic arthritis in adults
- Moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease in adults
- Moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis in adults
How Skyrizi (risankizumab) works
Skyrizi (risankizumab) is a type of monoclonal antibody. More specifically, it's an interleukin antagonist. It blocks proteins in your immune system called interleukin-23 (IL-23). These proteins play a role in causing inflammation.
By blocking IL-23, Skyrizi (risankizumab) helps lower swelling in the body. This helps relieve symptoms from certain inflammatory conditions.
Drug facts
More on Skyrizi (risankizumab) essentials
Side effects of Skyrizi (risankizumab)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Upper respiratory infections (13%)
- Headache (4%)
- Tiredness (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Injection site reaction (e.g., bruising, redness, pain, swelling, itching, warmth, irritation)
- Fungal infections
Note: Side effects listed were reported by adults with plaque psoriasis. Side effects might differ for other conditions.
Skyrizi (risankizumab) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reactions: hives; trouble breathing; chest tightness; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Infection: fever; cough; weakness; sweating; chills; trouble breathing; diarrhea; scaly, itchy, or burning skin
More on Skyrizi (risankizumab) side effects
The following Skyrizi (risankizumab) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Pain, redness, or irritation at injection site
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
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Pros and cons of Skyrizi (risankizumab)
Pros
- Given every 2 or 3 months after a couple of starter doses (depends on your condition)
- Can give injections under the skin at home after you get trained
Cons
- Must be given as an injection
- Not approved for children
Pharmacist tips for Skyrizi (risankizumab)
- After the first few starter doses, you inject Skyrizi (risankizumab) once every 2 or 3 months. Although this can be convenient, it can also make it easier for some to forget when their injections are. To help you remember, set up reminders on your calendar or phone for each injection.
- For treating plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis: You can give Skyrizi (risankizumab) injections under the skin by yourself. But first, your healthcare team will show you how to inject it using the prefilled syringe or pen. They'll make sure you can do it on your own before you can inject at home.
- For treating Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis: For the first 3 doses, you'll get Skyrizi (risankizumab) as an infusion through the vein at a medical center. Each infusion takes at least 1 hour, so plan ahead for your appointments. After that, you'll switch to injections under the skin. Your care team will show you how to use the Skyrizi prefilled syringes or On-Body Injector and prefilled cartridges before you do it at home.
- Before getting any vaccines, tell your prescriber or pharmacist you're taking Skyrizi (risankizumab). They can help make sure the vaccine is safe for you. You shouldn't get live vaccines while taking this medication. Skyrizi (risankizumab) can make you more likely to get sick from a live vaccine.
Tips for using Skyrizi (risankizumab) and injecting it under the skin at home
- Your care team will give you training on how to inject Skyrizi (risankizumab) under the skin at home. Make sure you know how to give yourself injections. Read the instructions for the Skyrizi prefilled syringe, pen, or the On-Body Injector. Ask your care team if you have any questions on how to use Skyrizi (risankizumab).
- How to store Skyrizi (risankizumab): Place the medication in the refrigerator until it's time to use it. Don't let it freeze, though. Keep it in the original carton to protect it from light.
- When you're ready for your Skyrizi (risankizumab) injection: Take 1 carton out of the refrigerator (without taking out the pen, syringe, cartridge, or On-Body Injector). Lay it on a flat surface so it can reach room temperature. Depending on the device, plan for 15 to 90 minutes for the medication to warm up. Don't try to warm it up any other way (e.g., microwave, direct sunlight).
- Where to inject Skyrizi (risankizumab): Inject the medication under the skin at the front of your thighs or stomach (at least 2 inches from your belly button). For the prefilled pen or syringe, someone can help inject it at the back of your upper arms. Choose a different spot for each injection. Avoid areas that are sore, bruised, red, hard, scarred, has stretch marks, or has psoriasis. This helps avoid bruising and skin irritation. Also, don't inject through clothes and never inject into your muscle or vein.
- For the Skyrizi prefilled pen: Hold the pen at a 90-degree angle against your skin, push down, and press the green button. You'll hear a "click" when the injection starts. You'll know when it's done when you hear another "click" or when the inspection window turns yellow. This should take up to 15 seconds.
- For the Skyrizi prefilled syringe: There are two syringe strengths (90 mg/mL and 150 mg/mL). If you're using the 90 mg/mL syringes, you'll need two 90 mg injections in a row to get a full 180 mg dose. Inject the medication at a 45-degree angle. When you're done, the syringe should be empty, the plunger pushed all the way in, and the whole needle covered by the needle guard.
- For the Skyrizi On-Body Injector: Start the injection within 5 minutes after putting the cartridge into the injector. Use the different colors of light on the injector to guide you through the injection. The whole injection can take up to 5 minutes, and the On-Body Injector will stop by itself. You'll know when it's done when you hear beeps and the status light turns solid green (not flashing).
- How to throw away Skyrizi (risankizumab): After your injection, put your used device in a sharps container or a strong plastic container (like an empty milk carton or laundry detergent bottle). Don't put syringes, pens, or On-Body Injectors into your trash can. This helps keep everyone safe from needle sticks. You can visit the FDA's website to learn more about how to safely throw away sharps.
Common questions about Skyrizi (risankizumab)
It depends on your condition and where you are in your treatment. For plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, the first two injections are a month apart. Then the rest of the injections are 3 months apart. For Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, you start with infusions through the vein. After 3 months, you'll switch to self-injections under the skin given once every 2 months. Talk to your prescriber about your specific dosing schedule.
How long it takes for Skyrizi (risankizumab) to work depends on the condition you're using it for. Some people with plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis might have improved symptoms within 1 month. Other studies found that some people with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis also saw improvements as early as 1 month. In general, it can take several months to see full benefits from the medication. Also remember that everyone responds to treatment in different ways. So follow up with your prescriber about how well Skyrizi (risankizumab) is working for you.
It's best to ask your prescriber if you can take Skyrizi (risankizumab) a week early. It's not clear what happens if you take the medication early. But it might depend on your situation. In general, you take the maintenance doses of the medication every 2 or 3 months. If you need or want to change your dosing schedule, talk to your prescriber first and follow their instructions carefully.
Yes, Skyrizi (risankizumab) is a type of biologic medication. Biologics are made from living things, like cells, in the lab. Skyrizi (risankizumab) is a monoclonal antibody, which is a lab-made protein made from cells. It helps block inflammation in your body. This relieves symptoms of certain inflammatory problems.
Some people might think of Skyrizi (risankizumab) as an immunosuppressant. It works by blocking certain proteins in your immune system to lower inflammation. This helps treat certain inflammatory problems. But by making the immune system less active, it can also put you at risk of infections.
Keep Skyrizi (risankizumab) in the fridge between 36ºF and 46ºF. Only take it out to let it warm up to room temperature before your injection. For the prefilled syringe, let it sit out for 15 to 30 minutes before you inject. For the prefilled pen, take it out 30 to 90 minutes before. And for the On-Body Injector, let it warm up for 45 to 90 minutes before. If the medication is left out too long by accident, throw it away and call your prescriber or pharmacist for a replacement. If you're traveling and don't have access to a fridge, make arrangements to keep the medication cold (like a portable cooler with ice packs).
Hair loss wasn't a side effect that people using Skyrizi (risankizumab) had during studies. Call your care team if you notice hair loss while you're taking this medication. They can talk to you about possible reasons why it's happening.
Skyrizi (risankizumab) doesn't seem to cause weight gain. If you have weight changes that worry you while taking this medication, talk to your primary care provider.
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Risks and warnings for Skyrizi (risankizumab)
Skyrizi (risankizumab) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Allergic reaction
It's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to Skyrizi (risankizumab). These allergic reactions can include anaphylaxis. Look out for any trouble breathing; hives; and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Get medical help right away if this happens at any time during treatment.
Risk of infection
- Risk factors: Active or chronic (long-term) infection | Getting sick often | Having other conditions that raise your risk of infection
Skyrizi (risankizumab) can make it hard for your body to fight off germs. This can raise your risk for bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. In studies, the most common infections were upper respiratory infections and fungal infections. This risk also includes tuberculosis (TB) infections. Although rare, infections were sometimes serious.
Before starting Skyrizi (risankizumab), tell your prescriber about your medical history to make sure it's safe for you. This is important if you have an infection now or if you've had TB before. You'll get tested for TB before treatment. If you have or have had TB, you'll need to take antibiotics to treat it or keep it from coming back. Don't start Skyrizi (risankizumab) until any current infections go away.
Call your care team if you have signs of infection while taking Skyrizi (risankizumab). Watch for things like fever, cough, trouble breathing, feeling weak, chills, night sweats, or changes in your skin. Your care team can also check for infections during treatment. If you get sick, you might need to stop taking Skyrizi (risankizumab) until you feel better.
Rare case of liver injury
If you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, tell your prescriber if you also have liver problems. They can make sure Skyrizi (risankizumab) is safe for you. So far, one person with Crohn's disease had serious liver injury after getting a few infusions of the medication through the vein.
Although liver problems are rare, your prescriber might order blood tests to check your liver. Get medical help right away if you have signs of liver damage during treatment. Look for stomach pain, nausea, or yellow skin or eyes. If this happens, your prescriber might talk to you about other treatment options.
Caution when getting vaccines
It's a good idea to be up to date on all your vaccines before starting Skyrizi (risankizumab). During treatment, tell your healthcare professional you're taking this medication before getting any vaccines. They can make sure the vaccine is safe for you.
Avoid getting live vaccines, like Varivax (chickenpox vaccine) and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine). Skyrizi (risankizumab) might raise your risk of infection from the live vaccine itself.
Skyrizi (risankizumab) dosage
Kit| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| prefilled cartridge of 360mg/2.4ml | 1 kit | $20,443.52 | $20,443.52 |
| prefilled cartridge of 180mg/1.2ml | 1 kit | $22,891.12 | $22,891.12 |
Package| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 syringes of 75mg/0.83ml | 1 package | $31,455.28 | $31,455.28 |
| 1 pen of 150mg/ml | 1 package | $20,217.99 | $20,217.99 |
| 1 syringe of 150mg/ml | 1 package | $20,299.61 | $20,299.61 |
Typical dosage for Skyrizi (risankizumab)
-
Plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis
- Week 0 (the first day of treatment): The typical dose is 150 mg injected under the skin once.
- Week 4: The typical dose is 150 mg injected under the skin once.
- Week 12 and beyond: The typical dose is 150 mg injected under the skin once every 12 weeks (or 3 months).
-
Crohn's disease
- Induction (week 0 to 8): The typical dose is 600 mg infused through the vein once every 4 weeks. It's given by a healthcare professional at a medical office or infusion clinic.
- Maintenance (week 12 and beyond): The typical dose is 180 mg or 360 mg injected under the skin once every 8 weeks (or 2 months).
-
Ulcerative colitis
- Induction (week 0 to 8): The typical dose is 1,200 mg infused through the vein once every 4 weeks. It's given by a healthcare professional at a medical office or infusion clinic.
- Maintenance (week 12 and beyond): The typical dose is 180 mg or 360 mg injected under the skin once every 8 weeks (or 2 months).
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How much does Skyrizi (risankizumab) cost?
$20,217.99
What are alternatives to Skyrizi (risankizumab)?
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