Omvoh is a brand-name injectable drug that’s prescribed for ulcerative colitis. Omvoh contains the active ingredient mirikizumab-mrkz and is a type of monoclonal antibody.

Drug details

You’ll find key information about Omvoh below.

Omvoh is a brand-name medication that contains the active drug mirikizumab-mrkz.* It’s a biologic drug that isn’t available in biosimilar form.

Biologics are made from parts of living cells, while traditional drugs are made from chemicals. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a traditional brand-name drug. However, since biologics cannot be copied exactly, they have biosimilars instead of generics.

Like generics, biosimilars are considered to be as safe and effective as the original brand-name drug.

* The reason “-mrkz” appears at the end of the drug’s name is to show that the drug is distinct from similar medications that may be created in the future.

The dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on the form of Omvoh you’re prescribed. The form prescribed depends on whether you are first starting the medication.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly prescribed or recommended. However, be sure to follow the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Omvoh comes as a solution. It’s available as:

  • a single-dose vial that contains 300 milligrams (mg) of Omvoh per 15 milliliters (mL) of solution
  • a single-dose, prefilled injection pen that contains 100 mg/mL

To learn more about how Omvoh is given, see “How to receive or inject” below.

Dosage for ulcerative colitis

Omvoh is prescribed to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). The starting dosage for UC is one vial (300 mg) every 4 weeks for three doses. The typical ongoing dosage of Omvoh for UC is two injection pens (200 mg) every 4 weeks.

How to receive or inject

A healthcare professional will give you the first three doses of Omvoh as an intravenous (IV) infusion. Omvoh infusions typically last about 30 minutes. You’ll likely receive Omvoh infusions in a hospital, clinic, or infusion center.

Starting with your fourth dose, you’ll receive Omvoh as a subcutaneous injection. A full dose of Omvoh requires two injections under the skin using one pen followed immediately by a second pen.

Omvoh can be injected under the skin of your upper arm, thigh, or abdomen. If the upper arm is used for the injection, you should have someone else do the injection for you. A healthcare professional will show you or a caregiver how to inject Omvoh at home.

To learn more about what to expect with Omvoh treatment, visit the drug manufacturer’s website.

About receiving Omvoh

Below you’ll find information about key dosage issues.

  • When to receive: You’ll receive Omvoh once every 4 weeks.
  • If you miss a dose:If you miss an appointment to receive an Omvoh infusion, call the hospital, clinic, or infusion center right away. They’ll help you reschedule the appointment. If you’re injecting Omvoh at home and miss a dose, inject it as soon as you remember. Then inject your next dose 4 weeks later. If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Length of treatment: Omvoh is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Omvoh is safe and effective for you, your treatment will likely be long term.

Overdose

Do not inject more Omvoh than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.

What to do in case you inject too much Omvoh

If you think you’ve injected too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Omvoh can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur during treatment with Omvoh. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

Side effects might differ slightly between people receiving the drug as an intravenous (IV) infusion or subcutaneous injection.

For more information about the possible side effects of Omvoh, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Omvoh, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Below is a partial list of mild side effects of Omvoh. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or view Omvoh’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Omvoh can include:

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about allergic reaction and Omvoh, see “Allergic reaction” below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Omvoh aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

  • Serious infections, such as pneumonia and shingles. Symptoms can vary depending on the infection but may include:
    • fever or chills
    • difficulty breathing
    • chest pain
    • painful, blistering skin rash on one side of the body
  • Liver damage. Symptoms can include:
  • Severe allergic reaction.*

* For details about allergic reaction and Omvoh, see “Allergic reaction” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after receiving or injecting Omvoh. This was a rare side effect in clinical trials of this drug.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
  • difficulty breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Omvoh, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Omvoh to treat certain conditions.

Omvoh for ulcerative colitis

Omvoh is FDA-approved to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults with moderate to severe symptoms.

UC is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation that leads to ulcers in the large intestine, which includes the colon and rectum. Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.

You can learn more about UC by visiting our IBD hub.

Omvoh and children

Omvoh is not FDA-approved for use in children. It’s not known for sure whether the drug is safe or effective for children.

Omvoh can interact with certain vaccines. The drug is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, or foods. However, this doesn’t mean that interactions won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new drugs could be approved that interact with Omvoh.

Before starting Omvoh, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Interactions with vaccines

Omvoh may interact with live vaccines, such as vaccines for chickenpox (Varivax) or measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). A live vaccine contains live but weakened pieces of the virus or bacterium it’s meant to defend against.

This section does not contain all live vaccines that may interact with Omvoh. If you have questions about vaccine interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol is not known to interact with Omvoh. However, alcohol may worsen symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC). (Omvoh is prescribed to treat UC.) So consuming alcohol during Omvoh treatment could make it difficult to tell whether the drug is working.

If you have questions about the safety of drinking alcohol during Omvoh treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

As with all medications, the cost of Omvoh can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Financial and insurance assistance:If you need financial support to pay for Omvoh or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

A program called Omvoh Together is available for Omvoh. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 844-466-8644 or visit the program website.

Biosimilar version:Omvoh is not available in a biosimilar form. It’s a biologic drug made from parts of living cells. Instead of generics, biologic drugs have biosimilars. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. However, biologics cannot be copied exactly.

As with generics, biosimilars are considered to be as safe and effective as the original brand-name drug. And they may cost less than brand-name drugs.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

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Other drugs are available that can treat ulcerative colitis. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Omvoh, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Below are a few drugs that are similar to Omvoh:

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Omvoh and pregnancy

It’s not known whether Omvoh should be received or injected during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting this medication.

If you’re prescribed Omvoh during pregnancy, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry helps collect information about pregnancy-related issues that may occur with Omvoh. To learn more, talk with your doctor or call 800-545-5979.

Omvoh and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Omvoh should be received or injected while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before starting this medication.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Omvoh.

How does Omvoh work?

Omvoh is prescribed to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). UC is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in the large intestine.

Omvoh works by blocking the activity of a certain protein that plays a role in inflammation. In doing so, Omvoh helps reduce inflammation and eases UC symptoms.

If you have other questions about how Omvoh works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Omvoh cause long-term side effects?

It’s rare but possible. Omvoh may cause side effects that start during treatment but can continue after treatment ends. These include liver damage and serious infections such as shingles.

If you have other questions about possible long-term side effects of Omvoh, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does Omvoh compare with Stelara?

Omvoh and Stelara have some similarities and differences.

Both Omvoh and Stelara are prescribed for UC in adults. Each drug can be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion or subcutaneous injection.

Omoh and Stelara contain different active drugs. Omvoh contains mirikizumab-mrkz, while Stelara contains ustekinumab. Both drugs are monoclonal antibodies that work similarly in the body.

Doses of Omvoh are given once every 4 weeks. Doses of Stelara may be given once every 8 weeks. To learn more about Omvoh’s dosage, see the “Omvoh dosage” section above. For details about Stelara’s dosage, see this article.

For more information about how Omvoh compares with Stelara, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

This drug comes with several precautions.

Before starting Omvoh, discuss your health history with your doctor. Omvoh may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Omvoh, see the “Omvoh side effects” section above.

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.