Ustekinumab STELARA®

HOW EFFECTIVE IS STELARA?

Like other medications, not everyone will respond to ustekinumab. As a newer drug, there is less data available on how effective it is. However, it has shown efficacy in psoriatic arthritis, and three big studies have shown it to be effective for treating and maintaining remission in adult Crohn’s disease¹:

• UNITI-1: this study included 741 patients who did not respond adequately to other anti-TNF biologics (adalimumab or infliximab). Approximately 34% had a response to the medication 6 weeks after starting it, and this was up to almost 40% by week 8.
• UNITI-2: this study included 628 patients where immunomodulatory treatment (Imuran, Methotrexate) were not successful. Over 50% of participants had a response at week 6.

Participants from both these studies were then part of a longer study, which found that approximately 50% (half) of participants taking ustekinumab were in remission 44 weeks after starting the medication. 

More studies are being done on this medication. It is expected that, similar to other biologic medications, some patients may find the medication works less well over time. In these people, increasing the dose, how often you take the medication (frequency), or taking another immunosuppressant, may help regain effectiveness. 

References