Skyrizi vs. Enbrel

Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) and Enbrel (etanercept) are used to treat plaque psoriasis.

Enbrel is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Skyrizi and Enbrel belong to different drug classes. Skyrizi is an interleukin-23 antagonist and Enbrel is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor.

Side effects of Skyrizi and Enbrel that are similar include headache and injection site reactions (bruising, redness, fluid leakage, bleeding, infection, inflammation, irritation, pain, itching, swelling, warmth).

Side effects of Skyrizi that are different from Enbrel include upper respiratory infections, fatigue, and tinea infections (such as ringworm, athlete's foot, and jock itch).

Side effects of Enbrel that are different from Skyrizi include mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, heartburn, weight changes, cold symptoms (cough, runny nose), and weakness.

Both Skyrizi and Enbrel may interact with “live” vaccines.

Enbrel may also interact with anakinra, cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, abatacept, insulin or oral diabetes medicines, and drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicines or steroids).

Side effects of Skyrizi include:

• upper respiratory infections,
• headache,
• fatigue,
• injection site reactions (bruising, redness, fluid leakage, bleeding, infection, inflammation, irritation, pain, itching, swelling, warmth), and
• tinea infections (such as ringworm, athlete's foot and jock itch)

Common side effects of Enbrel include:

• Mild nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Redness or discomfort at the injection site
• Heartburn
• Weight changes
• Cold symptoms (cough, runny nose)
• Weakness

Serious side effects include:

• Seizures
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Skin changes (rash, pustules, blisters, patchy skin color, red spots, or a butterfly-shaped rash over cheeks and nose)
• Swelling
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Numbness and tingling, burning pain
• Vision changes
• Dizziness
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, confusion, neck stiffness, flu symptoms, itching, swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing),
• Rapid weight gain
• Chest pain
• Ongoing cough
• Coughing up mucus or blood
• Black, bloody, or tarry stools
• Changes in mood or personality (in children)
• Joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizures (convulsions)

Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) is an interleukin-23 antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Enbrel (etanercept) is a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Skyrizi may interact with "live" vaccines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use and all vaccines you recently received. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Skyrizi; it is unknown how it would affect a fetus. It is unknown if Skyrizi passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Enbrel may interact with anakinra, cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, or drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

The dose of Skyrizi is 150 mg (two 75 mg injections) administered by subcutaneous injection at Week 0, Week 4 and every 12 weeks thereafter.

Enbrel is available in three preparations; 0.98 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept, 0.51 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept and 25 mg etanercept. All are used for injection; only the 25 mg strength is available in a multiuse vial, the others are available in a prefilled syringe. Starting dose is often 50 mg injected twice a week in adults and 0.8 mg per Kg in pediatric patients weighing less than 63 Kg. Other doses may be used.