Wezlana

Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub) is a biosimilar to Stelara used to treat certain types of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Wezlana helps reduce the symptoms of these diseases but does not cure them.

Wezlana works by blocking certain proteins in your body called IL-12 (interleukin-12) and IL-23 (interleukin-23) that cause inflammation in these autoimmune conditions. Wezlana is from a class of medicines called interleukin inhibitors.

Wezlana received FDA approval on October 31, 2023, as a biosimilar to Stelara. It was the first Stelara biosimilar approved in the US.

Wezlana can be used to treat:

Adults with:

• moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy
• active psoriatic arthritis
• moderately to severely active Crohn's disease
• moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

Children 6 years of age and older with:

• moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy
• active psoriatic arthritis.

It is not known if Wezlana is safe and effective in children with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, or in children less than 6 years of age with plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Wezlana is intended for use under the guidance and supervision of your doctor. Prepare your injection only when you are ready to give it.

Wezlana should look clear to opalescent and colorless to light yellow. It is normal to see air bubbles. Do not use it if it is frozen, cloudy, or discolored, or if it has large particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

• Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: The first dose of Wezlana is given through a vein in the arm (intravenous infusion) by your healthcare provider. It takes at least 1 hour to receive the infusion. Your next dose is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) 8 weeks after the infusion, then every 8 weeks after that.
• Psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis: Wezlana is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) as described below.

How to administer subcutaneous Wezlana

In children, it is recommended that Wezlana is administered by a healthcare provider. If your doctor decides that you or a caregiver may give your injections at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject Wezlana.

• Your healthcare provider will determine the right dose of Wezlana, the amount for each injection, and how often it should be given.
• Do not try to inject yourself until you have been shown how to give the injections by a healthcare provider.
• Inject Wezlana under the skin in your upper arms, buttocks, upper legs (thighs), or stomach area (abdomen).
• Do not give an injection in an area of the skin that is tender, bruised, red, or hard.
• Use a different injection site each time you use Wezlana.
• If you receive two 45 mg prefilled syringes for a 90 mg dose, you will need to give two injections, one right after the other.
• Let the syringe reach room temperature for about 30 minutes before injecting. Do not warm it with hot water, a microwave, or direct sunlight, and do not shake it.
• The syringe, needle, and vial must never be re-used. Place used needles and syringes in a sharps disposal container, and throw away any unused portion of Wezlana.
• Be sure to keep all scheduled follow-up appointments.

You should not use Wezlana if you are allergic to ustekinumab products, or to any of the inactive ingredients in Wezlana. Ask your doctor if you are not sure.

Before you start treatment with this injection, your doctor should evaluate you for tuberculosis. Wezlana should not be given to people with active tuberculosis, and treatment for latent tuberculosis should be started before Wezlana is given.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, or if you have been in close contact with someone with tuberculosis.

To make sure Wezlana is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

• have signs of infection (fever, sweats or chills, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, blood in phlegm, weight loss, warm, red or painful skin or sores, diarrhea or stomach pain, burning when you urinate, feeling very tired)
• are being treated for an infection or have any open cuts
• get a lot of infections or have infections that keep coming back
• have ever had an allergic reaction to an ustekinumab product, or have an allergy to alpha-gal or have been diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome (a type of food allergy to certain meats or meat products that may be triggered by some tick bites)
• have new or changing skin lesions within psoriasis areas or on normal skin
• have ever had any type of cancer
• receive or have received phototherapy (light therapy) for psoriasis
• are receiving or have received allergy shots, especially for serious allergic reactions. Allergy shots may not work as well for you during treatment with Wezlana. Wezlana may also increase your risk of having an allergic reaction to an allergy shot
• recently received or are scheduled to receive any vaccine. People who take this medicine should not receive live vaccines. Tell your doctor if anyone in your house needs a live vaccine. The viruses used in some types of live vaccines can spread to people with a weakened immune system and can cause serious problems. You should avoid receiving the BCG vaccine during the one year before receiving Wezlana or one year after you stop receiving Wezlana
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Some people using this medicine have developed skin cancer (non-melanoma). However, these people may have had a higher risk of skin cancer. Talk to your doctor about this risk and what skin symptoms to watch for. You may need to have regular skin exams.

Pregnancy

It is not known whether Wezlana will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, and you and your doctor should decide together whether you will receive Wezlana.

Data from a pregnancy registry, published studies, and safety reporting have not identified a link between ustekinumab and major birth defects, miscarriage, or other harmful effects on the mother or baby. Inflammatory bowel disease itself carries risks in pregnancy, and more active disease has been linked with preterm delivery, low birth weight, and babies that are small for their gestational age.

Antibodies like ustekinumab cross the placenta, particularly in the third trimester, so a baby may be exposed to the medicine before birth. Talk to your doctor and your baby's healthcare provider about what this may mean for your baby. It is important that you tell your baby's healthcare provider if you received Wezlana while you were pregnant before any vaccinations are given to your baby.

Breastfeeding

Limited data suggest that ustekinumab is present in human breast milk. There are no data on the effects on milk production, and the effects on a breastfed infant are unknown. Talk to your doctor about the benefits of breastfeeding alongside your need for Wezlana and any possible effects on your baby.

Common Wezlana side effects

The most common Wezlana side effects are:

• nasal congestion, sore throat, and runny nose
• upper respiratory infections
• fever
• headache
• tiredness
• itching
• nausea and vomiting
• influenza
• redness at the injection site
• vaginal yeast infections
• urinary tract infections
• sinus infection
• bronchitis
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• joint pain.

Serious Wezlana side effects

Serious allergic reactions. Serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema (swelling under the skin), have been reported with ustekinumab products both in clinical trials and after these medicines were approved. Serious allergic reactions can cause death. One death has been reported in a person who developed chest tightness and shortness of breath during their first infusion.

Some serious allergic reactions have happened during the first intravenous dose, which is given in a healthcare setting where staff can treat a reaction straight away. Reactions were uncommon in the Crohn's disease trials, and the people affected were treated with antihistamines or corticosteroids and their symptoms settled within an hour.

Stop using Wezlana and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, such as:

• feeling faint or light-headed
• swelling of your face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat
• chest discomfort or tightness
• trouble breathing or shortness of breath
• hives, a skin rash, or flushing.

Do not take another dose of Wezlana unless your doctor tells you it is safe to do so.

Serious infections. Wezlana may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections. Some people have serious infections while taking ustekinumab products, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Some people have to be hospitalized for treatment of their infection.

• Your doctor should check you for TB before starting Wezlana.
• If your doctor feels that you are at risk for TB, you may be treated with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with Wezlana and during treatment with Wezlana.
• Your doctor should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB while you are being treated with Wezlana.

You should not start taking Wezlana if you have any kind of infection unless your doctor says it is okay.

After starting Wezlana, call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as fever, sweats or chills, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, blood in phlegm, weight loss, warm, red or painful skin or sores on your body, diarrhea or stomach pain, burning when you urinate or urinating more often than normal, or feeling very tired. These may be signs of infections such as chest infections, or skin infections or shingles, that could have serious complications.

People who have a genetic problem where the body does not make any of the proteins interleukin 12 (IL-12) and interleukin 23 (IL-23) are at a higher risk for certain serious infections. These infections can spread throughout the body and cause death. People who take Wezlana may also be more likely to get these infections.

Cancers. Wezlana may decrease the activity of your immune system and increase your risk for certain types of cancers. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any type of cancer. Some people who are receiving ustekinumab products and have risk factors for skin cancer have developed certain types of skin cancers. During your treatment with Wezlana, tell your doctor if you develop any new skin growths. Your doctor may monitor you more closely if you are over 60 years of age, have taken medicines that suppress the immune system for a long time, or have had PUVA treatment.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES). Wezlana may cause a rare but serious condition affecting the brain called PRES, which can cause death. PRES has been reported a few days to several months after starting an ustekinumab product, and in a few cases a year or longer afterwards. People recovered with supportive care once the medicine was stopped. Tell your doctor right away if you have a headache, confusion, vision problems, or a seizure.

Lung inflammation. Cases of lung inflammation, including interstitial pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, have happened in some people who receive ustekinumab products such as Wezlana, and may be serious. These have been reported after one to three doses and have sometimes led to respiratory failure and prolonged hospitalization. These lung problems may need to be treated in a hospital. Tell your doctor right away if you develop shortness of breath or a cough that doesn't go away during treatment with Wezlana.

Also, call your doctor at once if you have:

• a mole that has changed in size or color
• swelling, pain, warmth, or redness anywhere on your body
• stomach pain that is sudden and severe or comes on slowly, changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation)
• new or worsening cough, sudden chest pain, feeling short of breath
• pain or burning when you urinate or
• severe headache, confusion, change in mental status, vision problems, and/or seizure (convulsions).

This is not a complete list of Wezlana side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or to Amgen Medical Information at 1-800-77-AMGEN (1-800-772-6436).

Your healthcare provider will work out the right dose for you based on your condition and, where relevant, your weight at the time of dosing.

Wezlana dosage for plaque psoriasis

Adults:

• 100 kg or less: 45 mg
• More than 100 kg: 90 mg.

Children 6 years and older:

• Less than 60 kg: 0.75 mg/kg
• 60 kg to 100 kg: 45 mg
• More than 100 kg: 90 mg.

For both adults and children, Wezlana is given as a subcutaneous injection initially and 4 weeks later, then every 12 weeks.

Wezlana dosage for psoriatic arthritis

Adults:

• 45 mg, regardless of weight
• 90 mg for people who also have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and weigh more than 100 kg.

Children 6 years and older:

• Less than 60 kg: 0.75 mg/kg
• 60 kg or more: 45 mg
• More than 100 kg with co-existent moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: 90 mg.

For both adults and children, Wezlana is given as a subcutaneous injection initially and 4 weeks later, then every 12 weeks.

Wezlana dosage for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Adults receive a single intravenous infusion first, based on weight:

• 55 kg or less: 260 mg
• More than 55 kg to 85 kg: 390 mg
• More than 85 kg: 520 mg.

A 90 mg subcutaneous injection is then given 8 weeks after the initial intravenous dose, and every 8 weeks after that.

Wezlana is available as

Subcutaneous injection:

• Wezlana 45 mg/0.5 mL single-dose prefilled syringe
• Wezlana 90 mg/mL single-dose prefilled syringe
• Wezlana 45 mg/0.5 mL solution in a single-dose vial.

Intravenous infusion:

• Wezlana 130 mg/26 mL (5 mg/mL) solution in a single-dose vial.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a live vaccine while using this medicine, and avoid coming into contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

The BCG vaccine should not be given during the one year before you start Wezlana, while you are taking it, or for at least 1 year after your last dose.

Non-live vaccines (including flu shots) may not work as well during your treatment and may not fully protect you from disease. Make sure you are current on all vaccines before you begin treatment with this medicine.

Other drugs may interact with Wezlana, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

It is important to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• medicines with a narrow safety margin that are broken down by CYP450 liver enzymes, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune). Blocking IL-12 and IL-23 can change how quickly the liver clears these medicines, so your doctor may check your levels or response and adjust your dose when Wezlana is started or stopped
• allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots). Wezlana may reduce how well allergy shots work and may increase the risk of an allergic reaction to them.

In psoriasis studies, ustekinumab has not been evaluated in combination with medicines that suppress the immune system or with phototherapy. In studies in psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, taking methotrexate, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, or oral corticosteroids alongside ustekinumab did not appear to change how safe or effective it was.

Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Store Wezlana vials, prefilled syringes, and prefilled ConfiPen autoinjectors in a refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). Keep the medicine in the original carton to protect it from light until time to use it. Do not freeze. Do not shake.

If needed, an individual Wezlana prefilled syringe or 45 mg vial may also be stored at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) for a maximum single period of up to 30 days, in the original carton to protect from light. Record the date when the prefilled syringe or 45 mg vial is first removed from the refrigerator on the carton in the space provided.

• Once a prefilled syringe or 45 mg vial has been stored at room temperature, do not return it to the refrigerator.
• Throw away the prefilled syringe or 45 mg vial if it is not used within 30 days at room temperature.

Do not store Wezlana in extreme heat or cold, for example in a vehicle glove box or trunk. Do not use Wezlana after the expiration date on the carton, the prefilled syringe, or the 45 mg vial.

Active ingredient: ustekinumab-auub

Inactive ingredients

Single-dose prefilled syringe, single-dose prefilled ConfiPen autoinjector, and single-dose vial for subcutaneous use: histidine, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, polysorbate 80, and sucrose.

Single-dose vial for intravenous infusion: edetate disodium, histidine, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, methionine, polysorbate 80, and sucrose.

The needle cover on the Wezlana prefilled syringe and prefilled ConfiPen autoinjector does not contain latex. However, the needle cover on other ustekinumab prefilled syringes may contain latex. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to latex.

Wezlana is manufactured by Amgen Inc., One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-1799, and is manufactured for Nuvaila, Dublin, Ireland.

Biosimilar and interchangeable products are biological products that are highly similar to and have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product.

Reference products

These are biological products that have already been approved by the FDA, against which biosimilar products are compared. There is 1 for Wezlana.

Stelara (ustekinumab) - Janssen Biotech, Inc.

View Stelara information in detail.

Stelara interchangeable products

Interchangeable biosimilar products can be dispensed by a pharmacist without the intervention of the prescriber of the reference product.

Pharmacy laws for biosimilar prescribing may vary by state.

Imuldosa (ustekinumab-srlf) - Accord BioPharma Inc.

View Imuldosa information in detail.

Otulfi (ustekinumab-aauz) - Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC

View Otulfi information in detail.

Pyzchiva (ustekinumab-ttwe) - Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd.

View Pyzchiva information in detail.

Selarsdi (ustekinumab-aekn) - Alvotech USA Inc.

View Selarsdi information in detail.

Starjemza (ustekinumab-hmny) - Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd.

View Starjemza information in detail.

Steqeyma (ustekinumab-stba) - CELLTRION, Inc.

View Steqeyma information in detail.

Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub) - Amgen Inc.

Yesintek (ustekinumab-kfce) - Biocon Biologics Inc.

View Yesintek information in detail.

Stelara biosimilar products

Biosimilar products can only be dispensed in place of the reference product if the healthcare provider specifically prescribes the biosimilar product by name.

Pharmacy laws for biosimilar prescribing may vary by state

Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub) - Amgen Inc.

Yesintek (ustekinumab-kfce) - Biocon Biologics Inc.

View Yesintek information in detail.