Humira vs. Entyvio

Humira and Entyvio have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following.

• Both Humira and Entyvio are FDA-approved to treat:
  • moderate to severe Crohn’s disease in adults only for Entyvio; in adults and children ages 6 years and older for Humira.
  • moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults only for Entyvio; in adults and children ages 5 years and older for Humira.*
• Humira is also FDA-approved to treat:
  • moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults
  • ankylosing spondylitis in adults
  • psoriatic arthritis in adults
  • moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in certain adults
  • moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in people ages 12 years and older
  • moderate to severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children ages 2 years and older
  • certain types of uveitis in people ages 2 years and older

* For Crohn’s disease, Humira comes with the following limitation of use. It isn’t known whether Humira is effective in people who previously took a TNF blocker, but they either could not tolerate the drug or it stopped working for their condition. (TNF blockers are a class of drugs. Humira and Remicade are examples of drugs in this class.)

Humira or Entyvio and children

Humira is approved by the FDA for the following uses in certain children, including:

• moderate to severe Crohn’s disease in children ages 6 years and older
• moderate to severe UC in children ages 5 years and older
• moderate to severe HS in people ages 12 years and older
• moderate to severe JIA in children ages 2 years and older
• certain types of uveitis in people ages 2 years and older

Entyvio is not approved for use in children.

Note: For more information about the drugs’ uses, see our articles about Humira and Entyvio.

Below are answers to some common questions about Humira and Entyvio.

Is Humira a better treatment option than Entyvio or vice versa?

It depends. When you’re considering two similar drugs, such as Humira and Entyvio, it isn’t always possible to predict which one would be a better option for you. These drugs work in a similar way and can cause some similar side effects.

Keep in mind that the results of Humira and Entyvio can vary. How one person responds to these medications can vary from your body’s response. Your doctor can help you decide which treatment may be a safer option for you.

If you have questions about Humira or Entyvio, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does Humira or Entyvio compare with Remicade?

Humira, Entyvio, and Remicade are all brand-name medications. They are prescribed to treat some of the same conditions. Entyvio is a relatively newer drug, while Remicade and Humira have been available for longer.

The table below compares some key facts about these drugs.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for more details about how these drugs are alike and different.

* Biosimilar drugs are similar to generic drugs but for biologic medications. Biologics are drugs made using parts of living cells.

How much Humira or Entyvio costs depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes and your insurance plan.

For Entyvio, it will also depend on the cost of the visit to a healthcare professional to receive doses of the drug.

For Humira, the cost may vary depending on the pharmacy you use, if you give yourself doses at home. Or, if you get your Humira dose at your doctor’s office, it may depend on the cost for this visit. You can visit Optum Perks* for price estimates of Humira.

Both Humira and Entyvio are brand-name biologic drugs. Humira also comes in several biosimilar versions. Entyvio is not currently available in a biosimilar version. (Biosimilar drugs are like generic drugs, but for biologic drugs. However, biologic drugs cannot be copied exactly, as they are made from living cells.) Biosimilar drugs typically cost less than the original brand-name biologic product.

Note: For more information about drug costs, see our cost articles about Humira and Entyvio. Also, for information about Humira and Medicare see this article.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.

Here’s information about the biosimilar status for Humira and Entyvio, as well as details on their active ingredients.

* Both Entyvio and Humira are brand-name biologic drugs. Humira comes in several biosimilar versions, while Entyvio is only available as a brand-name drug. Biosimilars are like generic drugs, but for biologic drugs. Biologic drugs cannot be copied exactly, as they are made from living cells. Biosimilar drugs are often less expensive than the original brand-name biologic drug. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about biosimilar drugs.

Here’s a quick look at the dosage and administration of Humira and Entyvio for the conditions both drugs treat.

Dosage for Crohn’s Disease

Below are the dosages of Humira and Entyvio for Crohn’s disease in adults. These dosages are expressed in milligrams (mg) per milliliter (mL).

* Your doctor may recommend that you stop Entyvio treatment if your Crohn’s disease symptoms haven’t eased or gone away within 14 weeks of starting the drug.

Humira is given as a subcutaneous injection. These injections may be given by a healthcare professional at your doctor’s office or clinic. Or they may show you how to give the Humira injections to yourself at home.

Entyvio is given as an IV infusion by a healthcare professional. You’ll receive the drug at your doctor’s office or clinic. Each Entyvio infusion takes about 30 minutes. A healthcare professional will monitor you during each infusion.

Your doctor will advise you on the dosage and administration of Entyvio or Humira that’s right for you.

Dosage for ulcerative colitis

Below are the dosages of Humira and Entyvio for ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults.

* Your doctor may recommend that you stop Humira treatment if your condition hasn’t gone into remission within 8 weeks of starting this treatment for UC. (With remission, you still have UC, but your symptoms have gone away.) Your doctor can tell you more about this.
** Your doctor may recommend that you stop Entyvio treatment if your UC symptoms haven’t eased or gone away within 14 weeks of starting the drug.

Humira is given as a subcutaneous injection. These injections may be given by a healthcare professional at your doctor’s office or clinic. Or they may show you how to give the Humira injections to yourself at home.

Entyvio is given as an IV infusion by a healthcare professional. You’ll receive the drug at your doctor’s office or clinic. Each Entyvio infusion takes about 30 minutes. A healthcare professional will monitor you during each infusion.

Your doctor will advise you on the dosage and administration of Entyvio or Humira that’s right for you.

Note: For more information about dosage, see our dosage articles about Humira and Entyvio.

Both Humira and Entyvio both treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These drugs can cause some of the same side effects, as well as some different ones. Some of the side effects reported in clinical trials of these drugs are mentioned below.

For more details about side effects of the two drugs, see our side effect articles about Humira and Entyvio. You can also refer to the Humira prescribing information and Entyvio prescribing information.

Mild side effects

The following table lists some of the more commonly reported mild side effects of Humira and Entyvio. The table may also include mild side effects that are less common but that you might have concerns about in some cases.

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. If the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* An allergic reaction is possible with Humira use, but it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. An allergic reaction is also possible with Entyvio use; this side effect was seen in the drug’s clinical trials.

Serious side effects

The table below lists the reported serious side effects of Humira and Entyvio.

If you have serious side effects while using Humira or Entyvio, call your doctor immediately. If the side effects feel life threatening or you believe you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.

* Humira has a boxed warning for these side effects. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Warnings of Humira and Entyvio” section below.
** An allergic reaction is possible with Humira use, but it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. An allergic reaction is also possible with Entyvio use; this side effect was seen in the drug’s clinical trials.

This section describes details about the effectiveness of Humira and Entyvio.

Comparison review of studies. Here’s a brief look at whether Humira or Entyvio was found to be more effective for treating certain conditions.

A 2019 head-to-head study compared adalimumab (Humira) versus vedolizumab (Entyvio) for treating moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC).

The results showed that vedolizumab was better at helping people with the disease reaching clinical remission. The drug also helped improve certain signs of the disease seen using endoscopy. (Endoscopy is a test doctors use to look inside your digestive tract.)

However, vedolizumab was not more effective than adalimumab at reducing the need for corticosteroids during remission. (Corticosteroids are a type of drug used to reduce inflammation.)

Keep in mind that trials and reviews of trials may not apply to your individual health situation. Be sure to talk with your doctor to see if Humira or Entyvio may be right for you.

Separate studies of these drugs for Crohn’s disease were compared in a larger review of studies. A 2016 review of studies suggests that either adalimumab (Humira) or infliximab plus azathioprine are the most effective medications for inducing and maintaining remission of Crohn’s disease. (With remission, you still have Crohn’s disease, but your symptoms have gone away.)

Keep in mind that trials and reviews of trials may not apply to your individual health situation. Be sure to talk with your doctor to see if Humira or Entyvio may be right for you.

Prescribing information. For details about how these drugs performed in separate clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Humira and Entyvio. Keep in mind that trial results may not apply to your individual health situation.

Treatment guidelines. Another way to see whether a drug is considered effective is to look at treatment guidelines. When an organization includes certain drugs in treatment guidelines, this means that research has shown the drug to be safe and effective.

Adalimumab (Humira) and vedolizumab (Entyvio) are included in treatment guidelines for Crohn’s disease from the American College of Gastroenterology. However, these guidelines state that it may take longer for vedolizumab to reach its full effectiveness compared with tumor necrosis factor blocker drugs, such as Humira. This means that Humira may work more quickly than Entyvio to relieve symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

Both drugs are also mentioned in treatment guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) for UC. The AGA’s specific recommendations depend on which medications you’ve already tried for your UC (if any). For example, if you haven’t yet tried any biologic drugs for your moderate to severe UC, the AGA recommends vedolizumab (Entyvio) more highly than adalimumab (Humira) for inducing remission. (With remission, you still have UC, but your symptoms have gone away.)

Humira and Entyvio may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The two drugs share some of the same precautions, but they also have different ones. Some of these precautions are mentioned below.

Boxed warnings

Humira comes with two boxed warnings. These are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

• Risk of cancer. Lymphomas (cancers of the white blood cells) and other types of cancer have occurred in people who received Humira, including children. Some cases resulted in death. Rarely, a form of lymphoma known as hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma has occurred in young adult and adolescent males* who had Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and took Humira. (Among other uses, Humira is used to treat these conditions.)
• Risk of serious infections. Humira usage increases the risk of serious infections that may be life-threatening or require hospitalization. Examples include pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), and widespread body infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Before you start Humira treatment, your doctor will check you for TB. They’ll also monitor you for TB and other types of infections throughout your treatment. If you develop a serious infection during Humira treatment, your doctor may have you stop taking the drug.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “male” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Precautions

In addition to Humira’s boxed warnings, Humira and Entyvio have other warnings.

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Humira or Entyvio.

Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Humira and Entyvio articles.

Switching between Humira and Entyvio might be possible.

If you’d like to know more about switching between Humira and Entyvio, talk with your doctor. They can give you additional details and help determine the best course of action for your personal situation. Even if two drugs treat the same condition or work in a similar way, your body can still respond differently. It’s important that you do not stop, start, or switch any of your drug treatments without your doctor’s recommendation.

Some key points to remember when comparing Humira and Entyvio include:

• Both drugs are prescribed to treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults, but only Humira is approved for these uses in certain children.
• Humira is given by a subcutaneous injection by a healthcare professional. Or you may be able to self-inject Humira at home. In contrast, Entyvio is only given by a healthcare professional. It’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion.

If you’d like to learn more about Humira or Entyvio, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about similarities and differences between the drugs. They can also help determine whether one drug or the other might work well for you.

Note: For more information about the conditions Humira and Entyvio are used to treat, visit our inflammatory bowel disease hub. You can also see our lists of Crohn’s disease articles and UC articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.