Steqeyma (Ustekinumab-Stba) for Psoriasis

Steqeyma (ustekinumab-stba) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults and children ages 6 years and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

How Steqeyma Works and How It’s Taken

Steqeyma is a type of monoclonal antibody that works by blocking two immune system proteins, called interleukin-12 and interleukin-23. In plaque psoriasis, this helps reduce inflammation and slow the overactive immune signals that lead to skin plaques.

Steqeyma is a biosimilar to Stelara. 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 Steqeyma for adults and children ages 6 years and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. These people must be candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. Phototherapy means treatment with ultraviolet light. Systemic therapy means medicine that works throughout the body.

Steqeyma is given as an injection under the skin. It is given at the start, again four weeks later, and then every 12 weeks.

Steqeyma should be used under the guidance and supervision of a healthcare provider. In children, it is recommended that a healthcare provider give the injection. A person or caregiver may give the injection at home if a healthcare provider decides this is appropriate and gives proper training.

Steqeyma can be injected under the skin in the upper arms, buttocks, thighs, or stomach area. Do not inject it into skin that is tender, bruised, discolored, or hard. Use a different injection site each time.

Typical Dosing for Plaque Psoriasis

For adults, the recommended dose of Steqeyma for plaque psoriasis is:

100 kilograms or less — 45 milligrams at the start, 45 milligrams four weeks later, then 45 milligrams every 12 weeks
More than 100 kilograms — 90 milligrams at the start, 90 milligrams four weeks later, then 90 milligrams every 12 weeks.

For children ages 6 years and older, the recommended dose of Steqeyma for plaque psoriasis is:

Less than 60 kilograms — 0.75 milligrams per kilogram at the start, 0.75 milligrams per kilogram four weeks later, then 0.75 milligrams per kilogram every 12 weeks
60 kilograms to 100 kilograms — 45 milligrams at the start, 45 milligrams four weeks later, then 45 milligrams every 12 weeks
More than 100 kilograms — 90 milligrams at the start, 90 milligrams four weeks later, then 90 milligrams every 12 weeks

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

Steqeyma Side Effects

In clinical studies of Steqeyma for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, the most common side effects occurred in about 3 percent to 8 percent of people. These include:

Common cold symptoms, such as a sore throat or nasopharyngitis (runny nose)
Upper respiratory tract infection
Headache
Fatigue (feeling very tired)

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

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

Serious infections — Tuberculosis (TB) and serious bacterial, fungal, or viral infections can occur.
Malignancies — Cancer, including nonmelanoma skin cancer, can occur.
Serious hypersensitivity reactions — Anaphylaxis and angioedema can occur and may cause trouble breathing, swelling, hives, or rash.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) — This rare brain condition can cause headache, confusion, vision changes, or seizures.
Noninfectious pneumonia — Lung inflammation not caused by an infection, such as interstitial pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, or cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, can cause cough or shortness of breath.

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

How To Save on Steqeyma

Celltrion USA, the manufacturer of Steqeyma, offers the Celltrion CARES Co-pay Program. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0 out-of-pocket for each dose.

The Celltrion CARES Co-pay Program is part of the Celltrion CONNECT Patient Support Program, which offers help verifying insurance coverage and plan requirements, as well as nurse-supported injection training, storage and handling guidance, dosing education, and ongoing support.

To learn more, visit the Celltrion CONNECT Patient Support Program or call 877-812-6662.

What To Know Before Taking Steqeyma

Before starting Steqeyma, your doctor will check you for active and latent (hidden) TB.

Before starting Steqeyma, make sure your vaccines are up to date. While taking Steqeyma, you should avoid live vaccines. You should not receive the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for one year before starting Steqeyma, during treatment, or for one year after stopping Steqeyma.

Tell your doctor if anyone in your home needs a live vaccine. Some live vaccines may spread from a household contact to a person taking Steqeyma.

Before starting Steqeyma, tell your doctor if you think you have an infection or have symptoms of infection.

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to ustekinumab-stba or any ingredients in Steqeyma. Do not take Steqeyma if you have had a clinically significant allergic reaction to ustekinumab products or any of the ingredients in Steqeyma.

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

Before starting Steqeyma, tell your doctor if you:

Have any open cuts
Are being treated for an infection
Get a lot of infections
Have infections that keep coming back
Have TB
Have been close to someone with TB
Have ever had cancer
Have any new or changing lesions in psoriasis areas or on normal skin
Receive or have received phototherapy for psoriasis
Receive or have received allergy shots

Also tell your doctor if you have had nervous system problems in the past. Tell your doctor right away if you have headache, seizures, confusion, or vision changes.

Steqeyma is also FDA approved to treat psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Steqeyma, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Steqeyma for plaque psoriasis?

In two adult plaque psoriasis studies, 67 percent of people taking 45 milligrams of Steqeyma had at least a 75 percent improvement in psoriasis severity by week 12, compared with 3 percent to 4 percent of people taking placebo. In the same studies, 66 percent to 76 percent of people taking 90 milligrams reached that level of improvement by week 12. In a pediatric study of children ages 12 and older, 80.6 percent reached at least a 75 percent improvement by week 12, compared with 10.8 percent with placebo.

How long does Steqeyma take to work for plaque psoriasis?

In plaque psoriasis studies, results were measured at week 12. By week 12, more people taking ustekinumab had improved psoriasis scores than people taking placebo. The studies reported PASI 75 responses at week 12. PASI 75 means the psoriasis score improved by at least 75 percent.

The studies do not say the exact earliest time when improvement starts for each person. They also do not say exactly when people first notice improvement in plaque psoriasis.

What tests or monitoring are needed with Steqeyma for psoriasis?

Before starting Steqeyma, your doctor should check you for TB. You should not receive Steqeyma if you have active TB. If you have latent (inactive) TB it should be treated before you start Steqeyma.

People receiving Steqeyma should be closely monitored and have regular follow-up visits with a healthcare provider.

Your doctor should watch for signs and symptoms of infection, active TB, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and PRES. PRES is a rare brain condition that can cause headache, seizures, confusion, or vision problems.