Eticovo (Etanercept-Ykro) for Psoriasis

Eticovo (etanercept-ykro) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults and children 4 years and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

How Eticovo Works and How It’s Taken

Eticovo is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker. TNF is a protein in the body that helps cause inflammation. Eticovo blocks TNF, which can help lower inflammation.

In psoriatic arthritis, inflammation can cause joint pain, swelling, and damage. Eticovo helps reduce signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. It can also help slow joint damage and improve physical function.

Eticovo is a biosimilar of Enbrel. This means it is made from living cells and is designed to work like the original medicine. The FDA requires biosimilars to have no meaningful differences in safety or how well they work.

Doctors prescribe Eticovo when an adult has active psoriatic arthritis. It can be used with or without methotrexate, another medication commonly used in psoriatic arthritis.

Eticovo is given as an injection under the skin. With proper training and follow-up, some people may be able to give themselves injections at home.

Typical Dosing for Psoriatic Arthritis

For adults with psoriatic arthritis, the recommended dose is 50 milligrams once a week.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Eticovo Side Effects

In clinical trials of Eticovo for plaque psoriasis in adults, the most common side effects were infections and injection site reactions. These common side effects occurred in about 15 percent to 28 percent of people.

Side effects can be different when Eticovo is used to treat different conditions.

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Eticovo has a boxed warning for serious infections and cancer. Eticovo can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention.

These include:

Serious infections — These include tuberculosis, invasive fungal infections, and other infections that can spread through the body.
Cancer — These include lymphoma and other types of cancer.
Neurologic reactions — These include new or worsening demyelinating disease.
New or worsening heart failure — This medication may increase the risk of heart failure.
Blood disorders — This medication may cause a higher risk of low blood cell counts.
Hepatitis B reactivation — This virus may return for people who have had it before.
Serious allergic reactions — These include anaphylaxis.
Autoimmune reactions — These include lupus-like syndrome or autoimmune hepatitis.
Weakened immune system — Immunosuppression is also a risk with this medication.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

What To Know Before Taking Eticovo

Before starting Eticovo, your doctor will check you for active tuberculosis and test you for latent tuberculosis. Your doctor may also monitor you for tuberculosis during treatment.

Before starting Eticovo, it’s recommended that you be up to date on age-appropriate vaccines. You should not receive live vaccines while taking Eticovo.

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to etanercept-ykro or any ingredients in Eticovo.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements. Be sure to tell your doctor if you take abatacept (Orencia), anakinra (Kineret), cyclophosphamide, or diabetes medicines.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of Eticovo. If you took Eticovo during pregnancy, talk with your doctor before your baby receives any live vaccines.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Eticovo?

In studies of adults with plaque psoriasis, some people had clearer skin after three months of treatment.

Researchers looked at how many people saw a 75 percent improvement in their psoriasis score. This score looks at how much skin is affected and how severe the psoriasis is.

After three months, 32 percent of people taking 25 milligrams of etanercept twice weekly had a 75 percent improvement. This also happened in 46 percent to 47 percent of people taking 50 milligrams twice weekly.