Stelara and Taltz Comparison

Stelara®(ustekinumab)	Taltz®(ixekizumab)
Prescription Only Stelara is an immunosuppressant medication that targets two inflammatory cytokines, IL-12 and IL-23, which are key contributors to chronic inflammation. For Crohn's disease and...	Prescription Only Taltz, a monoclonal antibody, has anti-inflammatory properties and can potentially alleviate symptoms of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. Its...
Administration
Intravenous Infusion or Subcutaneous Injection . Learn more.	Subcutaneous Injection. Learn more.
Dosing
Single intravenous infusion using weight-based dosing: Recommended Dosage up to 55 kg: 260 mg. > 55 kg to 85 kg: 390 mg. > 85 kg: 520 mg. Maintenance dosing: SubQ 90 mg dose 8 weeks after the initial intravenous dose, then every 8 weeks thereafter.. Learn more.	Recommended dosage is 80 mg by subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks.. Learn more.
Latin Shorthand
Single IV infusion w/ weight-based dosing: Up to 55 kg: 260mg 55 to 85 kg: 390mg 85 kg: 520mg. Maintenance dosing: SubQ 90mg 8 wks after initial IV dose, then q8wks thereafter.. Learn more.	80mg SC inj. Q4W. Learn more.
Out-Of-Pocket Costs With Copay Card
$5. Learn more.	$5. Learn more.
Annual Cap
Learn more.	$9,100. Learn more.
Assistance Expiration
End of each calendar year (subject to change or discontinuation without notice). Learn more.	12/31/2025 or 36 months from qualification, whichever comes first (with prior authorization and appeal process as required). Learn more.
Generics
No lower-cost generic available	No lower-cost generic available
Adverse Reactions
Most common adverse reactions are: • Psoriasis (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and fatigue. • Crohn’s Disease, induction (≥3%): vomiting. • Crohn’s Disease, maintenance (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, injection site erythema, vulvovaginal candidiasis/mycotic infection, bronchitis, pruritus, urinary tract infection, and sinusitis. • Ulcerative colitis, induction (≥3%): nasopharyngitis • Ulcerative colitis, maintenance (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, headache, abdominal pain, influenza, fever, diarrhea, sinusitis, fatigue, and nausea . Learn more.	Most common (≥1%) adverse reactions associated with TALTZ treatment are injection site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, and tinea infections.. Learn more.
Mechanism of Actions (MoA)
Interleukin 12 Antagonist; Interleukin 23 Antagonist . Learn more.	Interleukin 17A Antagonists. Learn more.
Special Populations
Is STELARA® safe to use during pregnancy? Limited data on the use of STELARA® in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk. Animal studies have not shown any adverse effects, but the background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) is unknown. Pregnant women should only use STELARA® if the potential benefits outweigh the risks. Is it safe to use STELARA® while breastfeeding? There is no data on the presence of ustekinumab in human milk or the effects on milk production or the breastfed infant. Ustekinumab was present in the milk of lactating monkeys administered ustekinumab. Breastfeeding women should only use STELARA® if the potential benefits outweigh the risks. Can children use STELARA®? STELARA® is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years old, and psoriatic arthritis in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years old. Use in patients less than 6 years of age with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis or in pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis has not been established. Is STELARA® safe for geriatric patients? Although no overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed between older and younger patients, the number of patients aged 65 and over is not sufficient to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. Geriatric patients using STELARA® may have a higher frequency of serious infection, so caution should be used when treating them.	What is the Pregnancy Exposure Registry? It is a registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to TALTZ during pregnancy. How can pregnant women enroll in the TALTZ Pregnancy Registry? Pregnant women exposed to TALTZ can enroll in the registry by calling 1-800-284-1695. Contact information for the registry is also available on https://www.taltz.com. What is the risk associated with TALTZ use in pregnant women? Available data from the published literature and the pharmacovigilance database with TALTZ use in pregnant women are insufficient to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Is there a risk of harm to the developing fetus with TALTZ use in pregnant women? An embryofetal development study conducted in pregnant monkeys during organogenesis at doses up to 19 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) revealed no evidence of harm to the developing fetus. When dosing was continued until parturition, neonatal deaths were observed at 1.9 times the MRHD. However, the clinical significance of these nonclinical findings is unknown. What is the background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the U.S. general population? The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies in the U.S. general population is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Is TALTZ present in human milk and what are its effects on breastfed infants? There are no available data on the presence of ixekizumab (TALTZ) in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, ixekizumab was detected in the milk of lactating cynomolgus monkeys. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for TALTZ and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from TALTZ or from the underlying maternal condition. Is TALTZ safe and effective for use in pediatric patients? TALTZ is approved for use in pediatric patients aged 6-18 years with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Its safety and effectiveness have not been established in other pediatric indications or in patients less than 6 years of age.

Stelara®(ustekinumab)

Taltz®(ixekizumab)

Prescription Only

Stelara is an immunosuppressant medication that targets two inflammatory cytokines, IL-12 and IL-23, which are key contributors to chronic inflammation. For Crohn's disease and...

Prescription Only

Taltz, a monoclonal antibody, has anti-inflammatory properties and can potentially alleviate symptoms of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. Its...

Dosage & Administration

Administration

Intravenous Infusion or Subcutaneous Injection . Learn more.

Subcutaneous Injection. Learn more.

Dosing

Single intravenous infusion using weight-based dosing: Recommended Dosage up to 55 kg: 260 mg. > 55 kg to 85 kg: 390 mg. > 85 kg: 520 mg. Maintenance dosing: SubQ 90 mg dose 8 weeks after the initial intravenous dose, then every 8 weeks thereafter.. Learn more.

Recommended dosage is 80 mg by subcutaneous injection every 4 weeks.. Learn more.

Latin Shorthand

Single IV infusion w/ weight-based dosing: Up to 55 kg: 260mg 55 to 85 kg: 390mg 85 kg: 520mg. Maintenance dosing: SubQ 90mg 8 wks after initial IV dose, then q8wks thereafter.. Learn more.

80mg SC inj. Q4W. Learn more.

Financial Assistance

Out-Of-Pocket Costs With Copay Card

$5. Learn more.

Annual Cap

Learn more.

$9,100. Learn more.

Assistance Expiration

End of each calendar year (subject to change or discontinuation without notice). Learn more.

12/31/2025 or 36 months from qualification, whichever comes first (with prior authorization and appeal process as required). Learn more.

Generics

No lower-cost generic available

Physician Advisory

Adverse Reactions

Most common adverse reactions are: • Psoriasis (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and fatigue. • Crohn’s Disease, induction (≥3%): vomiting. • Crohn’s Disease, maintenance (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, injection site erythema, vulvovaginal candidiasis/mycotic infection, bronchitis, pruritus, urinary tract infection, and sinusitis. • Ulcerative colitis, induction (≥3%): nasopharyngitis • Ulcerative colitis, maintenance (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, headache, abdominal pain, influenza, fever, diarrhea, sinusitis, fatigue, and nausea . Learn more.

Most common (≥1%) adverse reactions associated with TALTZ treatment are injection site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, and tinea infections.. Learn more.

Mechanism of Actions (MoA)

Interleukin 12 Antagonist; Interleukin 23 Antagonist . Learn more.

Interleukin 17A Antagonists. Learn more.

Special Populations

Is STELARA® safe to use during pregnancy?

Limited data on the use of STELARA® in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk. Animal studies have not shown any adverse effects, but the background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population(s) is unknown. Pregnant women should only use STELARA® if the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

Is it safe to use STELARA® while breastfeeding?

There is no data on the presence of ustekinumab in human milk or the effects on milk production or the breastfed infant. Ustekinumab was present in the milk of lactating monkeys administered ustekinumab. Breastfeeding women should only use STELARA® if the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

Can children use STELARA®?

STELARA® is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years old, and psoriatic arthritis in pediatric patients 6 to 17 years old. Use in patients less than 6 years of age with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis or in pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis has not been established.

Is STELARA® safe for geriatric patients?

Although no overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed between older and younger patients, the number of patients aged 65 and over is not sufficient to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. Geriatric patients using STELARA® may have a higher frequency of serious infection, so caution should be used when treating them.

What is the Pregnancy Exposure Registry?

It is a registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to TALTZ during pregnancy.

How can pregnant women enroll in the TALTZ Pregnancy Registry?

Pregnant women exposed to TALTZ can enroll in the registry by calling 1-800-284-1695. Contact information for the registry is also available on https://www.taltz.com.

What is the risk associated with TALTZ use in pregnant women?

Available data from the published literature and the pharmacovigilance database with TALTZ use in pregnant women are insufficient to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

Is there a risk of harm to the developing fetus with TALTZ use in pregnant women?

An embryofetal development study conducted in pregnant monkeys during organogenesis at doses up to 19 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) revealed no evidence of harm to the developing fetus. When dosing was continued until parturition, neonatal deaths were observed at 1.9 times the MRHD. However, the clinical significance of these nonclinical findings is unknown.

What is the background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in the U.S. general population?

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies in the U.S. general population is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Is TALTZ present in human milk and what are its effects on breastfed infants?

There are no available data on the presence of ixekizumab (TALTZ) in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, ixekizumab was detected in the milk of lactating cynomolgus monkeys. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for TALTZ and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from TALTZ or from the underlying maternal condition.

Is TALTZ safe and effective for use in pediatric patients?

TALTZ is approved for use in pediatric patients aged 6-18 years with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Its safety and effectiveness have not been established in other pediatric indications or in patients less than 6 years of age.

Stelara® Alternatives