What Conditions Does Skyrizi Treat?

Skyrizi is FDA-approved for treating several immune-mediated inflammatory conditions. The primary conditions that Skyrizi treats include:

Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis is the original condition for which Skyrizi received FDA approval. Plaque psoriasis causes red, scaly patches on the skin that can be itchy and painful. Skyrizi has demonstrated significant efficacy in clearing skin for patients with this condition, with many achieving complete or near-complete skin clearance.

Active psoriatic arthritis is another condition treated by Skyrizi. This inflammatory condition affects both the skin and joints, causing joint pain, stiffness, and swelling along with psoriatic skin symptoms. For patients who experience both skin and joint inflammation, Skyrizi offers a treatment option that addresses both aspects of the disease.

How Skyrizi Works in the Body

Skyrizi belongs to a class of medications called interleukin inhibitors, specifically targeting IL-23. To understand how it works, it helps to know what happens in conditions like psoriasis:

In autoimmune conditions like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, the immune system becomes overactive. Interleukin-23 is a protein that signals immune cells to produce inflammation. This inflammation leads to the rapid growth of skin cells in psoriasis and joint damage in psoriatic arthritis.

Skyrizi works by selectively binding to the IL-23 protein, preventing it from attaching to cell receptors. By blocking this pathway, Skyrizi reduces the inflammatory response and helps slow down the overproduction of skin cells or joint inflammation. This targeted approach means Skyrizi focuses specifically on the inflammation pathway involved in these conditions rather than suppressing the entire immune system.

Skyrizi Treatment Comparison

When considering treatment options for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, patients and healthcare providers often compare several biologics. Here's how Skyrizi compares to other treatments:

Biologic Medication Comparison:

  • Skyrizi (AbbVie) - IL-23 inhibitor, administered every 12 weeks after initial doses
  • Humira (AbbVie) - TNF inhibitor, administered every 2 weeks
  • Stelara (Janssen) - IL-12/23 inhibitor, administered every 12 weeks after initial dose
  • Cosentyx (Novartis) - IL-17A inhibitor, administered monthly
  • Tremfya (Janssen) - IL-23 inhibitor, administered every 8 weeks after initial doses

Clinical trials have shown that Skyrizi provides high rates of skin clearance for psoriasis patients, with many achieving PASI 90 (90% improvement in psoriasis symptoms) or even PASI 100 (complete clearance). The extended dosing schedule of Skyrizi—only four maintenance doses per year after the initial loading doses—offers convenience compared to treatments requiring more frequent injections.

Benefits and Potential Side Effects of Skyrizi

Understanding both the benefits and potential drawbacks of Skyrizi helps patients make informed decisions about their treatment options.

Key Benefits:

  • High efficacy rates for skin clearance in plaque psoriasis
  • Improvement in joint symptoms for psoriatic arthritis
  • Convenient dosing schedule (maintenance doses only every 12 weeks)
  • Targeted mechanism that focuses on specific inflammation pathways
  • Generally well-tolerated by most patients

Potential Side Effects:

Like all medications, Skyrizi may cause side effects. The most common include upper respiratory infections, headache, fatigue, injection site reactions, and fungal skin infections. Serious infections can occur because Skyrizi affects the immune system. Before starting treatment, patients should be tested for tuberculosis and discuss their vaccination history with their healthcare provider.

Patients with certain conditions may not be suitable candidates for Skyrizi treatment. Those with active infections, including tuberculosis, should not start Skyrizi until the infection is treated. The medication hasn't been extensively studied in pregnant women, so potential risks to pregnancy should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Administration and Treatment Schedule

Skyrizi is administered as a subcutaneous injection, which means it's injected under the skin rather than into a vein. The medication comes in prefilled syringes or pens, making self-administration possible for many patients after proper training.

The typical treatment schedule for Skyrizi follows this pattern:

  • Initial doses: Two 75 mg injections (150 mg total) at Week 0
  • Second dose: 150 mg at Week 4
  • Maintenance doses: 150 mg every 12 weeks thereafter

For psoriatic arthritis, a similar dosing schedule is followed. The extended time between maintenance doses—only four treatments per year—represents an advantage for many patients compared to biologics requiring more frequent administration.

Patients can receive their injections at their healthcare provider's office or may be trained to self-administer at home. AbbVie, the manufacturer of Skyrizi, offers support programs to help eligible patients with the cost of treatment and provides resources for proper administration techniques. These patient support programs can be valuable since biologic medications like Skyrizi often have significant costs without insurance coverage or assistance programs.

Conclusion

Skyrizi represents an important treatment option for patients suffering from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Its targeted approach to inflammation, high efficacy rates, and convenient dosing schedule make it a valuable addition to the treatment landscape for these chronic conditions. As with any medication, patients should discuss the potential benefits and risks with their healthcare provider to determine if Skyrizi is the right choice for their specific situation.

The development of biologics like Skyrizi has transformed the treatment approach for immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, offering many patients the possibility of clearer skin and improved joint function with fewer side effects than older systemic treatments. For those struggling with the physical and emotional impact of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, consulting with a dermatologist or rheumatologist about newer treatment options like Skyrizi could be an important step toward better disease management.

Citations

This content was written by AI and reviewed by a human for quality and compliance.