Spevigo (Spesolimab-Sbzo) for Psoriasis

Overview
Spevigo is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in adults and children 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kilograms (around 88 pounds). It can be administered either during an acute flare of GPP or as ongoing maintenance therapy. Spevigo is also known by its drug name, spesolimab-sbzo.

Spevigo is an interleukin (IL)-36 receptor antagonist, which is thought to work by blocking the activity of the IL-36 receptor. This receptor is involved in the inflammatory processes that drive symptoms of GPP, such as widespread pustules on the skin.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Spevigo may be administered either by subcutaneous (under the skin) injection or intravenous infusion, depending on the recipient’s condition. For maintenance treatment (when not experiencing a flare), a subcutaneous loading dose is administered initially, followed by a maintenance dose every four weeks. For a GPP flare, the drug is administered as a single IV infusion, which may be repeated after one week if flare symptoms persist. Spevigo should always be taken exactly as prescribed by a health care provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of subcutaneous Spevigo include injection site reactions, urinary tract infections (UTIs), arthralgia (joint pain), and pruritus (itching).

For intravenous Spevigo, the most common side effects include asthenia (weakness) and fatigue, nausea and vomiting, headache, pruritus, skin reactions such as prurigo (itchy rash), bruising at the infusion site, and UTIs.

Rare but serious side effects may include serious infections, hypersensitivity reactions such as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and reactions related to the infusion process. Additionally, Spevigo may increase the risk of tuberculosis (TB), so a person should be evaluated for TB before beginning treatment. Live vaccines should also be avoided during and for at least 16 weeks following treatment with Spevigo.

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Label: Spevigo — Spesolimab-Sbzo Injection — DailyMed