| Psoriasis vulgaris
Stelara vs Otezla
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for psoriasis vulgaris.Deep comparison between: Stelara vs Otezla with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsOtezla has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Stelara based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Otezla but not Stelara, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Stelara
Otezla
At A Glance
SC injection
Every 8-12 weeks
IL-12/23 antagonist
Oral
Once or twice daily
PDE4 inhibitor
Indications
- Psoriasis vulgaris
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Crohn Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Psoriasis vulgaris
- Behcet Syndrome
Dosing
Psoriasis vulgaris Adults <=100 kg: 45 mg SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks; adults >100 kg: 90 mg SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks; pediatric patients >=6 years: weight-based dosing (0.75 mg/kg for <60 kg, 45 mg for 60-100 kg, 90 mg for >100 kg) SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks.
Arthritis, Psoriatic Adults: 45 mg SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks (90 mg for >100 kg with co-existent moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis); pediatric patients >=6 years: weight-based dosing (0.75 mg/kg for <60 kg, 45 mg for >=60 kg, 90 mg for >100 kg with co-existent plaque psoriasis) SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks.
Crohn Disease, Ulcerative Colitis Adults: single IV induction dose (260 mg for <=55 kg, 390 mg for >55-85 kg, 520 mg for >85 kg), followed by 90 mg SC at week 8, then every 8 weeks.
Arthritis, Psoriatic, Psoriasis vulgaris, Behcet Syndrome Adults: OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily or OTEZLA XR 75 mg once daily orally after 5-day titration starting at 10 mg; reduce to 30 mg once daily in severe renal impairment (OTEZLA XR not recommended in severe renal impairment).
Arthritis, Psoriatic, Psoriasis vulgaris (pediatric >=6 years) Weighing >=50 kg: OTEZLA 30 mg twice daily or OTEZLA XR 75 mg once daily orally after weight-based titration; weighing 20 to <50 kg: OTEZLA 20 mg twice daily orally; reduce to once daily dosing in severe renal impairment.
Contraindications
- Clinically significant hypersensitivity to ustekinumab or any excipient of STELARA
- Known hypersensitivity to apremilast or to any of the excipients in the formulation
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=1%) Nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, fatigue, back pain, dizziness, pharyngolaryngeal pain, pruritus, injection site erythema, myalgia, depression
Serious Infections, malignancies, serious hypersensitivity reactions, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), noninfectious pneumonia
Postmarketing Hypersensitivity reactions (anaphylaxis, angioedema, dyspnea, rash, urticaria), lower respiratory tract infection, PRES, interstitial pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, hypersensitivity vasculitis
Most common (>=2%) Diarrhea, nausea, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, vomiting, abdominal pain upper, nasopharyngitis
Serious Hypersensitivity, depression, weight decrease, severe worsening of psoriasis (rebound)
Pharmacology
Ustekinumab is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody that binds the p40 protein subunit shared by IL-12 and IL-23, blocking their interaction with the IL-12Rb1 receptor chain and thereby suppressing downstream inflammatory signaling involved in natural killer cell activation and CD4+ T-cell differentiation and activation.
Apremilast is an oral small molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) specific for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP); PDE4 inhibition increases intracellular cAMP levels and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-17, IL-22, and TNF-alpha in blood and skin.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Stelara
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (12/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
Otezla
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (12/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Stelara
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (4/8) · Qty limit (4/8)
Otezla
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (8/8) · Step Therapy (2/8) · Qty limit (8/8)
Humana
Stelara
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Otezla
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
$5/fillfill
Stelara withMe Savings ProgramCommercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
Cost estimate not availableAmgen Safety Net Foundation: Otezla
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.