Ustekinumab

Ustekinumab, sold under the brand name Stelara, is a human monoclonal antibody used to treat psoriasis. It is also approved to treat Crohn's disease in the United States among people who have not responded to more traditional treatments. It was found not effective for multiple sclerosis. Ustekinumab, sold under the brand name Stelara, is a human monoclonal antibody used to treat psoriasis. It is also approved to treat Crohn's disease in the United States among people who have not responded to more traditional treatments. It was found not effective for multiple sclerosis. It is manufactured in the Netherlands. It is a subcutaneous human interleukin 12 and interleukin 23 antagonist. These are naturally occurring proteins that regulate the immune system and immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. Ustekinumab is used to treat psoriasis. This includes psoriatic arthritis when it affects the skin. It is indicated for the treatment of adult patients (18 years and older) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (Ps) who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy, and adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) alone or in combination with methotrexate. It was also approved to treat Crohn's disease in September 2016. According to information provided by Centocor, maker of one medication based on ustekinumab, their version of the drug is associated with several types of serious adverse effects. These include an increased risk of infection, such as by tuberculosis and an increased risk of certain types of cancer. As with some other immunosuppressant drugs like ciclosporin, the brain swelling of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a risk. The pharmaceutical company also reports serious allergic reaction as a possible side effect. More common side effects are upper respiratory infection, headache, and tiredness. Clinical trials have shown that subcutaneous ustekinumab was generally well tolerated. Most treatment-emergent adverse events were of mild severity.