Indicated for moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease, moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis.
Trade name Stelara.
A human monoclonal antibody.
It is a monoclonal antibody against the p40 subunits shared by IL – 12 and IL – 23.
Routes of administration subcutaneous injection, Infusion.
Metabolism is unknown.
Biological half-life 15–32 days.
It is directed against interleukin 12 and interleukin 23, naturally occurring proteins that regulate the immune system and immune-mediated inflammatory disorders.
It is an antagonist of the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 and interleukin-23, used as induction and maintenance therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis.
Not effective for multiple sclerosis.
Designed to interfere with the triggering of the body’s inflammatory response through the suppression of certain cytokines, specifically, it blocks interleukin IL-12 and IL-23 which help activate certain T-cells.
It binds to the p-40 subunit of both IL-12 and IL-23 so that they subsequently cannot bind to their receptors.
When used as an 8-week induction therapy and 44-week maintenance therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: The percentage of patients who had clinical remission at week 8 among patients who received intravenous ustekinumab at a dose of 130 mg (15.6%) or 6 mg per kilogram (15.5%).
Ustekinumab usage results in clinical remission at week eight at 15.6% of patients, and at week 44, 38.2% and with treatment every 12 weeks at 43.8% in UC.
It was more effective than placebo for inducing and maintaining remission in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis.
Endoscopic improvement in mucosal appearance is associated with better subsequent long-term outcomes, including reductions in corticosteroid use and relapse.
Reductions in serum and fecal concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers are observed with induction, and are sustained through maintenance.
Adverse effects: increased risk of infection, increased risk of certain types of cancer,posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a risk, upper respiratory infection, headache, and tiredness.
In a study comparing etanercept and ustekinumab at twelve weeks, psoriatic plaques were reduced by at least three-quarters in 68% of the low-dose ustekinumab group and 74% of the high-dose group, and both groups fared better than the etanercept group, 57% of whom saw such improvement.
More effective then placebo for inducing and maintaining remission in patients with moderate-severe ulcerative colitis.