STELARA (ustekinumab)


Drug overview for STELARA (ustekinumab):

Generic name: USTEKINUMAB (US-te-KIN-ue-mab)
Drug class: Antipsoriatics
Therapeutic class: Dermatological

Ustekinumab, a human immunoglobulin G1 kappa (IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), is an immunosuppressive agent. Ustekinumab-auub, ustekinumab-aekn, ustekinumab-ttwe, ustekinumab-aauz, and ustekinumab-srlf are biosimilar to ustekinumab (Stelara(R)). FDA defines a biosimilar as a biological product that is highly similar to an FDA-licensed reference biological with the exception of minor differences in clinically inactive components and for which there are no clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity, or potency.

The claim of biosimilarity is based on a totality-of-evidence approach, which includes consideration of data from analytical, animal, and clinical studies (e.g., human pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, clinical immunogenicity assessment, additional comparative clinical studies). Therefore, biosimilarity may be established even when there are formulation or minor structural differences as long as these differences are not clinically meaningful. Biosimilars are approved through an abbreviated licensure pathway that establishes biosimilarity between the proposed biological and the reference biological but does not independently establish safety and effectiveness of the proposed biological.

In order to be considered an interchangeable biosimilar, a biological product must meet additional requirements beyond demonstrating biosimilarity to its reference product; these requirements include demonstrating that the biological product can be expected to produce the same clinical results as the reference product in any given patient and, for a biological product that is administered more than once to an individual, the risk in terms of safety or diminished efficacy of alternating or switching between use of the biological product and the reference product is no greater than the risk of using the reference product without such alternation or switch. Biosimilar products that are interchangeable can be substituted for the reference product without the intervention of the healthcare provider who prescribed the reference product. The only ustekinumab biosimilar that has been designated as interchangeable with ustekinumab (Stelara(R)) is ustekinumab-auub (Wezlana(R)). In this monograph, unless otherwise stated, the term ''ustekinumab products'' refers to ustekinumab (the reference drug) and its biosimilars.

Five ustekinumab biosimilars are currently available. Biosimilarity of these products has been demonstrated for the indications described in Table 1. Biosimilarity to originator ustekinumab is additionally supported by comparative clinical studies in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Table 1. Ustekinumab Biosimilar Products and FDA-licensed Indications. FDA PsA PsA PsO PsO CD UC labeled (Adults) (Pediatri (Adults) (Pediatri Indicatio cs) cs) n Ustekinum X X X X X X ab-auub Ustekinum X X X X X X ab-aekn Ustekinum X X X X X X ab-ttwe Ustekinum X X X X X X ab-aauz Ustekinum X X X X X X ab-srlf Abbreviations: CD, Crohn disease; PsA, psoriatic arthritis; PsO, psoriasis; UC, ulcerative colitis. Pediatric plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis indications are for patients >=6 years of age.
DRUG IMAGES
  • STELARA 45 MG/0.5 ML VIAL
    STELARA 45 MG/0.5 ML VIAL
  • STELARA 90 MG/ML SYRINGE
    STELARA 90 MG/ML SYRINGE
  • STELARA 45 MG/0.5 ML SYRINGE
    STELARA 45 MG/0.5 ML SYRINGE
  • STELARA 130 MG/26 ML VIAL
    STELARA 130 MG/26 ML VIAL
The following indications for STELARA (ustekinumab) have been approved by the FDA:

Indications:
Crohn's disease
Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
Psoriatic arthritis
Ulcerative colitis


Professional Synonyms:
Colitis ulcerativa
Psoriasis arthropica
Psoriatic arthropathy
Regional enteritis
Regional ileocolitis