Key takeaways

  • Ilumya is a biologic injection that is used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
  • It targets a specific protein (IL-23) in the immune system to reduce skin cell buildup.
  • People using Ilumya should be aware of potential side effects, including increased risk of infection. Also, anyone using Ilumya should avoid live vaccines due to its impact on the immune system.

Ilumya (“e-LOOM-me-a”) is a prescription medication that is used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. It comes as a solution for injection under the skin by a healthcare professional.

Ilumya is a brand-name biologic medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. The active ingredient in Ilumya is a specific strain of a monoclonal antibody called tildrakizumab-asmn. No biosimilar versions of Ilumya are available at this time.

Ilumya is manufactured by Sun Pharma.

Ilumya is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy (oral or injectable medications) or phototherapy for psoriasis.

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease and the most common form of psoriasis. It causes an overproduction of skin cells and the development of itchy, scaly patches of skin (plaques). These plaques can occur anywhere on the body, but they typically affect the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.

Plaque psoriasis causes white blood cells, which help the body fight disease, to mistakenly attack the person’s own skin cells. This causes the skin cells to rapidly divide and grow.

Skin cells are produced so quickly that older cells don’t have time to fall off and make room for new cells. This overproduction and buildup of skin cells causes inflamed, scaly, painful skin patches called plaques.

Ilumya is a monoclonal antibody, which is a type of drug developed from immune cells in a lab. Monoclonal antibodies target specific parts of the immune system.

Ilumya blocks the action of an immune system protein called interleukin-23 (IL-23). With plaque psoriasis, IL-23 activates chemicals that cause the immune system to attack skin cells. By blocking IL-23, Ilumya helps to reduce the buildup of skin cells and plaques.

Because Ilumya is a monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks the activity of IL-23, it is also called an IL-23 inhibitor.

How long does it take Ilumya to work?

Ilumya will start to work as soon as you start taking it. However, it takes time to build up in your system and take full effect, so it may be several weeks before you see any results.

Injections of Ilumya are administered by a healthcare professional in a doctor’s office or medical facility.

The first and second injections are given four weeks apart. After the second dose, subsequent doses are given every 12 weeks.

Each single-dose Ilumya injection contains 100 milligrams (mg) of tildrakizumab-asmn in 1 milliliter (mL) of solution.

The most common side effects of Ilumya reported in clinical studies of the drug were:

  • upper respiratory infections
  • injection site reactions
  • diarrhea

Ilumya and Skyrizi are both monoclonal antibody medications that target the IL-23 protein in the immune system to reduce inflammation. And both are liquid medicines given by injection under the skin.

But they have several differences, including the following.

FDA-approved indications

How doses are given

  • Ilumya injections must be given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting.
  • Skyrizi injections can be self-administered at home.

Side effects

  • Both Ilumya and Skyrizi can cause upper respiratory infections and injection site reactions. Ilumya is more likely to also cause diarrhea, whereas Skyrizi is more likely to also cause fatigue, headache, and joint pain (based on side effects reported in clinical trials of the drugs).

For more about the difference between Ilumya and Skyrizi and which medication might be best for you, talk with your doctor.

Ilumya and Tremfya are both monoclonal antibody medications that target the IL-23 protein in the immune system to reduce inflammation. And both are liquid medicines given by injection under the skin.

Differences between Ilumya and Tremfya include:

FDA-approved indications

  • Ilumya has FDA approval for use to treat plaque psoriasis.
  • Tremfya is FDA approved for use to treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
  • Ilumya is approved for use in adults only, whereas Tremfya is also approved for use in certain children ages 6 and older (for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis indications only).

How doses are given

  • Ilumya injections must be given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting.
  • Tremfya injections can be self-administered at home.

Side effects

  • Both Ilumya and Tremfya can cause upper respiratory infections and injection site reactions. Tremfya is more likely to also cause fatigue, headache, and joint pain (based on side effects reported in clinical trials of the drugs).

For more about the difference between Ilumya and Tremfya and which medication might be best for you, talk with your doctor.

The cost of Ilumya can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance coverage, your location, and the pharmacy used by your healthcare professional.

Because Ilumya doses must be administered by a healthcare professional, it’s possible that the cost of Ilumya injections may be covered in part by your medical insurance policy rather than a drug plan. To find out, talk with your medical insurance company.

Financial assistance might also be available from the drug manufacturer (Sun Pharma). To see if you are eligible, visit this Ilumya Support and Savings webpage.

Ilumya and other drugs

Ilumya has few drug interactions. This is because Ilumya and other monoclonal antibodies are metabolized, or broken down, by the body in a different way than most drugs are.

Many drugs, herbs, and supplements are metabolized by enzymes in your liver. Ilumya, on the other hand, is metabolized in a similar way to naturally occurring immune cells and proteins in the body. In short, it’s broken down inside cells throughout your body. Because Ilumya isn’t broken down in your liver with other drugs, it generally doesn’t interact with them.

Ilumya and live vaccines

Live vaccines should be avoided during treatment with Ilumya.

Live vaccines contain small amounts of weakened viruses. Because Ilumya blocks the immune system’s normal disease-fighting response, your body may not be able to fight off the virus in a live vaccine while you take the drug.

Examples of live vaccines to avoid during Ilumya treatment include vaccines for:

  • measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
  • smallpox
  • yellow fever
  • chicken pox
  • rotavirus

Before you begin treatment with Ilumya, talk with your doctor about whether you may need any of these vaccines. You and your doctor may decide to delay treatment with Ilumya until after you’re vaccinated with any live vaccines you may need.

Ilumya and alcohol

There are no known interactions between alcohol and Ilumya at this time. However, diarrhea is a side effect of Ilumya for some people. Drinking alcohol can also cause diarrhea. Therefore, drinking alcohol while you receive Ilumya treatment could increase your risk of this side effect.

Alcohol can also make your Ilumya treatment less effective. This is because of alcohol’s effects on psoriasis itself, and its potential effects on how you follow your treatment plan. Alcohol use can:

  • increase inflammation that can lead to skin cell buildup
  • decrease your immune system’s ability to fight infections and skin problems
  • cause you to forget to take your medication or to stop following your treatment plan

If you take Ilumya and have trouble avoiding alcohol, talk with your doctor about ways to prevent infections and to improve your chances of successful treatment with Ilumya.

It is not known if Ilumya is safe to use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of Ilumya treatment during pregnancy.

It is not known if Ilumya passes into human breast milk. If you are considering Ilumya treatment while breastfeeding, talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Ilumya.

No, Ilumya does not cure plaque psoriasis. There is currently no cure for this disease.

However, treatment with Ilumya can help you manage your plaque psoriasis and decrease your signs and symptoms of the condition.

Your doctor may have decided that Ilumya injections could do more to relieve your symptoms than a topical treatment (creams).

Systemic treatments such as Ilumya are generally more effective at improving psoriasis symptoms than topical treatments. This is because they work from the inside out. They target the immune system itself, which causes your psoriasis plaques. This can help both clear and prevent psoriasis plaques.

Topical treatments, on the other hand, generally treat the plaques after they are already formed.

Systemic treatments also are preferred if psoriasis plaques start affecting a large areas of your body, making topical treatments impractical.

You will likely continue getting Ilumya injections on a long-term basis if you and your doctor decide Ilumya is safe and effective for you.

Your doctor will test you for active or latent tuberculosis (TB) before you start treatment with Ilumya. People with latent TB may not know they have the infection because there are often no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to know if someone with latent TB is infected.

Testing for TB before treatment with Ilumya is important because Ilumya weakens the immune system. When the immune system is weakened, it can’t fight off infections, and latent TB can become active. Symptoms of active TB include fever, fatigue, weight loss, coughing up blood, and chest pain.

If you test positive for TB, you’ll likely need to receive TB treatment before starting Ilumya.

Before taking Ilumya, talk with your doctor about your health history. Ilumya may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These include:

  • a past allergic reaction to Ilumya or any of its ingredients
  • an active infection or a history of frequent infections
  • latent or active tuberculosis (TB)

Ilumya is a biologic medication used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. It targets a specific protein (IL-23) in the immune system to reduce inflammation and prevent the development of itchy, scaly patches of skin that characterize plaque psoriasis. Alternative treatments for plaque psoriasis include Skyrizi and Tremfya.

Note: This is a summary article. For more details about Ilumya, see its prescribing information or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current drug information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.