Tremfya (guselkumab) has been available for several years to treat plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. More recently, it was approved for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease. This brings a new option for people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Since inflammation in the gut can be more severe and widespread than in the skin or joints, Tremfya is given at higher doses for IBD compared to psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.
For Crohn’s disease, treatment can start with either IV infusions of 200 mg at Weeks 0, 4, and 8, OR with subcutaneous injections of 400 mg (two 200 mg injections) at Weeks 0, 4, and 8. The choice will depend on factors such as prescriber and patient preference. After this induction phase, maintenance is given as either 100 mg every 8 weeks or 200 mg every 4 weeks.
For ulcerative colitis, the induction for now is only available in the intravenous (IV) form – 200 mg at Weeks 0, 4, and 8. This will be followed by the same maintenance options as Crohn’s disease: 100 mg every 8 weeks or 200 mg every 4 weeks.
At Charlton Health, we can dispense both the IV option and the convenient new 200 mg autoinjector. For Crohn’s patients, this means induction can be done with just two 200 mg injections rather than four 100 mg pens (which was the only available option previously).
With these new approvals, Tremfya provides another flexible, effective, and self-administered option for people living with IBD.
Joyce Ayad is a pharmacist at Charlton Health, who believes in providing patient-focused care, supported by her previous experience working with specialty drugs, the pharmaceutical industry, and more.