Simponi Aria (Golimumab) for Psoriatic Arthritis

What Members Say Top Tips Side Effects Copay Help FAQs

Simponi Aria (golimumab) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat active psoriatic arthritis in people 2 years of age and older.

What Members Say

MHT logo These insights are based on 124 comments about Simponi Aria from MyPsoriasisTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.

Benefits:

Joint pain and swelling sometimes improve after the loading infusions.
Skin plaques, itching, and nail symptoms sometimes improve during treatment.
Energy and brain fog sometimes improve as symptoms come under better control.

Considerations:

Full benefit can take weeks to months, and early relief is not guaranteed.
Effectiveness can fade before the next infusion or stop over time.
Infusion reactions, itching, rash, and flu-like symptoms can occur.

How Simponi Aria Works and How It’s Taken

Simponi Aria is a type of biologic medication called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker. It works by binding to TNF-alpha, a protein involved in inflammation. By blocking TNF-alpha, Simponi Aria helps reduce inflammation.

In psoriatic arthritis, this helps reduce inflammation in the joints and surrounding tissues.

Doctors prescribe Simponi Aria to treat active psoriatic arthritis in people 2 years of age and older.

Simponi Aria is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. A healthcare professional gives the infusion over 30 minutes.

Typical Dosing for Psoriatic Arthritis

The recommended starting dose of Simponi Aria for psoriatic arthritis is 2 milligrams per kilogram at weeks 0 and 4, then every eight weeks.

Children 2 years of age and older receive 80 milligrams per square meter at weeks 0 and 4, then every eight weeks. The child’s dose is based on body surface area.

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

Top Advice From Members on Simponi Aria

MHT logo These insights are based on 124 comments about Simponi Aria from MyPsoriasisTeam members.

Members who use Simponi Aria often say it helps to set realistic expectations, pay attention to how you feel after each infusion, and stay in close contact with your care team. Many members also mention practical issues like cost, scheduling, and whether the medication seems to wear off before the next dose.

1

Keep track of side effects after each infusion.
“After each of two infusions I have developed rashes on my arms and a sensation of itching all over. Have notified my rheumatologist.”
2

Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to wear off.
“I have been on it for a year and it’s starting to wear off before the next infusion.”
3

Plan for recovery time after infusion day.
“My infusions really take me down for two to three days afterwards. I have horrible pain in my joints and feel like I have the flu. I spend a lot of time in bed.”

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Simponi Aria Side Effects

In clinical studies of Simponi Aria for active psoriatic arthritis, the most common side effects occurred in about 3 percent to 13 percent of people. These include:

Upper respiratory infection (like a cold)
Viral infections
Bronchitis
High blood pressure
Rash
Abnormal liver tests (higher liver enzymes on blood work)
Low neutrophil count (fewer white blood cells that help fight infection)

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Simponi Aria can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Serious infections — Severe infections can occur, including tuberculosis (TB) and invasive fungal infections, because Simponi Aria can lower immune system activity.
Cancer — This can include lymphoma and certain skin cancers.
Congestive heart failure — New or worsening heart failure can occur.
Demyelinating disorders — Nerve and brain conditions can occur, including multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Hepatitis B virus reactivation — The virus can become active again in people who carry hepatitis B.
Lupuslike syndrome — An immune reaction can cause symptoms similar to lupus.
Hematologic cytopenia — Serious blood problems, such as low blood cell counts, can occur.
Hypersensitivity reactions — Serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, which can cause trouble breathing, swelling, or hives.
Interstitial lung disease — Inflammation and scarring in the lungs can cause cough or dyspnea (shortness of breath).

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

How To Save on Simponi Aria

Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Simponi Aria, offers the J&J withMe Savings Program. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $5 per infusion.

The J&J withMe Savings Program also offers help checking eligibility, enrolling in the program, and getting an electronic savings card that can be saved to a mobile wallet.

To learn more, visit the J&J withMe patient support page or call 877-227-3728.

What To Know Before Taking Simponi Aria

Before starting Simponi Aria, your doctor will test you for:

Active TB and latent (hidden) TB infection
Hepatitis B infection

Your doctor will review your vaccination history and, if possible, make sure you are up to date on age-appropriate vaccines. Do not receive live vaccines while taking Simponi Aria.

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to golimumab or any ingredients in Simponi Aria.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you take:

Abatacept (Orencia) or anakinra (Kineret)
Other TNF blocker medicines, such as adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade)
Rituximab (Rituxan) or tocilizumab (Actemra)

Tell your doctor if you:

Think you have an infection
Are being treated for an infection
Have symptoms of an infection, such as fever, cough, chills, weight loss, or feeling very tired
Get infections often or have infections that keep coming back
Have diabetes, HIV, or a weakened immune system
Have TB or have been in close contact with someone who has TB
Live, have lived, or have traveled to areas where certain fungal infections are common
Have or have had hepatitis B
Have or have had any type of cancer
Have heart failure
Have or have had a nervous system disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
Have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine

Simponi Aria is also FDA approved to treat moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and active ankylosing spondylitis.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Simponi Aria, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. If you used Simponi Aria during pregnancy, live vaccines are not recommended for your baby for six months after your last Simponi Aria dose.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Simponi Aria for psoriatic arthritis?

In a study of 480 adults with active psoriatic arthritis, 75 percent of people treated with Simponi Aria had an ACR20 response at week 14. This compared with 22 percent of people who received placebo. An ACR20 response means that joint symptoms and other measures of the disease improved by at least 20 percent.

By week 24, Simponi Aria also slowed the progression of joint damage. The mean change in total modified vdH-S score was -0.4 with Simponi Aria, compared with 2.0 with placebo.

How long does Simponi Aria take to work for psoriatic arthritis?

The clinical study does not show exactly when each person will start to feel better.

The main measure of improvement was checked at week 14, so the study supports improvement by that time. Simponi Aria was given at weeks 0, 4, 12, and 20.

With the recommended dosing schedule, blood levels reached a steady state by week 12. This does not mean that everyone will start to feel better at week 12.