Generic drug: brodalumab
Brand name: Siliq
What is Siliq (brodalumab), and how does it work?
Siliq is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis:
- who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (ultraviolet light treatment), and
- who have not responded or lost response to other systemic therapy.
It is not known if Siliq is safe and effective in children.
What are the side effects of Siliq?
WARNING
SUICIDAL IDEATION AND BEHAVIOR
Suicidal ideation and behavior, including completed suicides, have occurred in patients treated with Siliq. Prior to prescribing Siliq, weigh the potential risks and benefits in patients with a history of depression and/or suicidal ideation or behavior.
Patients with new or worsening suicidal ideation and behavior should be referred to a mental health professional, as appropriate. Advise patients and caregivers to seek medical attention for manifestations of suicidal ideation or behavior, new onset or worsening depression, anxiety, or other mood changes.
Because of the observed suicidal behavior in subjects treated with Siliq, Siliq is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the Siliq REMS Program.
Siliq may cause serious side effects, including:
- Crohn’s disease. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop diarrhea, painful diarrhea, bloody stools, stomach pain or cramping, sudden or uncontrollable bowel movements, loss of appetite, constipation, weight loss, fever, or tiredness.
The most common side effects of Siliq include:
- joint pain,
- headache,
- tiredness,
- diarrhea,
- mouth or throat pain,
- nausea,
- muscle pain,
- injection site reactions,
- flu (influenza),
- low white blood count (neutropenia), and
- fungal infections of the skin.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the dosage for Siliq?
- The recommended Siliq dose is 210 mg administered by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, and 2 followed by 210 mg every 2 weeks.
- If an adequate response has not been achieved after 12 to 16 weeks of treatment with Siliq, consider discontinuing therapy. Continued treatment beyond 16 weeks in patients who have not achieved an adequate response is not likely to result in greater success.
Tuberculosis Assessment Prior To Initiation Of Siliq
- Evaluate patients for tuberculosis (TB) infection prior to initiating treatment with Siliq.
Important Administration Instructions
- Administer Siliq subcutaneously. Each prefilled syringe is for single dose only.
- Instruct patients to review the Medication Guide before use. Siliq is intended for use under the guidance and supervision of a healthcare professional. Patients may self-inject Siliq when deemed appropriate by a healthcare professional and after proper training in subcutaneous injection technique using the prefilled syringe.
- Advise patients who are self-administering to inject the full dose and to read the Instructions for Use before administration.
- Do not inject Siliq into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, hard, thick, scaly, or affected by psoriasis.
Preparation Of Siliq Prefilled Syringe
- Allow Siliq prefilled syringe to reach room temperature (approximately 30 minutes) before injecting. Do not warm in any other way. Do not remove the gray needle cap on the prefilled syringe while allowing it to reach room temperature.
- Visually inspect Siliq for particles and discoloration prior to administration. Siliq is a clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to slightly yellow solution practically free from particles. Do not use Siliq if it is cloudy or discolored or if foreign matter is present.
- Instruct patients to use the prefilled syringe and to inject the full amount (1.5 mL), which provides 210 mg of Siliq, according to the directions provided in the Instructions for Use.

SLIDESHOW
Types of Psoriasis: Medical Pictures and Treatments See SlideshowWhat drugs interact with Siliq?
Live Vaccinations
- Avoid use of live vaccines in patients treated with Siliq .
CYP450 Substrates
- The formation of CYP450 enzymes can be altered by increased levels of certain cytokines (e.g., IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα, IFN) during chronic inflammation. Treatment with Siliq may modulate serum levels of some cytokines.
- Therefore, upon initiation or discontinuation of Siliq in patients who are receiving concomitant drugs which are CYP450 substrates, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic index, consider monitoring for effect (e.g., for warfarin) or drug concentration (e.g., for cyclosporine) and consider dosage modification of the CYP450 substrate.
Is Siliq safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding?
- There are no human data on Siliq use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk. Human IgG antibodies are known to cross the placental barrier; therefore, Siliq may be transmitted from the mother to the developing fetus.
- There are no data on the presence of brodalumab in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production.
- Brodalumab 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 Siliq and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from Siliq or from the underlying maternal condition.
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Summary
Siliq (brodalumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Serious side effects of Siliq include suicidal ideation and Crohn’s disease. The most common side effects of Siliq include joint pain, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, mouth or throat pain, nausea, muscle pain, injection site reactions, flu (influenza), low white blood count (neutropenia), and fungal infections of the skin.
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Related Disease Conditions
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Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition that may cause large plaques of red, raised skin, flakes of dry skin, and skin scales. There are several types of psoriasis, including psoriasis vulgaris, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, and pustular psoriasis. Symptoms vary depending on the type of psoriasis the patient has. Treatment of psoriasis may include creams, lotions, oral medications, injections and infusions of biologics, and light therapy. There is no cure for psoriasis.
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Eczema
Eczema refers to skin inflammation. There are many different types of eczema that produce symptoms and signs that range from oozing blisters to crusty plaques of skin. Treatment varies depending upon the type of eczema the person has.
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Is Eczema Contagious?
Eczema is a skin condition characterized by inflamed, rough skin patches that occasionally produce fluid-filled bumps that may ooze. There is no cure for eczema, though eczema may be treated with moisturization, eczema cream, and topical steroids.
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Atopic Dermatitis vs Psoriasis
Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are common, long-term skin diseases. Both are noncontagious. Because both the rashes look somewhat similar, the diagnosis may be difficult at the first glance, and a biopsy of the skin remains the last resort. However, certain things that can help differentiate between the two before the doctor orders a biopsy.
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How to Get Rid of Psoriasis Quickly
Although psoriasis is incurable, it responds to topical and systemic treatments. Topical treatments that may be effective to treat mild psoriasis include creams, lotions, and sprays.
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Scalp Psoriasis (Psoriasis of the Scalp)
Scalp psoriasis causes red, raised, scaly patches that may extend from the scalp to the forehead and the back of the neck and ears. Symptoms and signs include itching, hair loss, flaking, silvery scales, and red plaques. Treatment includes topical medicated shampoos, creams, gels, oils, ointments, and soaps, medications, and light therapy.
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What Is the Main Cause of Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a non-contagious skin disease in which the skin cells grow in numbers faster than normal, producing rashes on the body. Normally, the cells on the surface of the skin are shed as new cells grow beneath. In psoriasis, the swift build-up of skin cells collects on the surface of the skin as scales or plaques. The exact cause of psoriasis is not completely understood. It appears to involve an interplay between a person’s genes, immune system and environment.
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Is Psoriasis Contagious?
Psoriasis is an incurable skin disease that causes reddish patches of skin topped with a thick layer of dry silvery scales. Psoriasis cannot spread and is not contagious.
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What Is the Difference Between Eczema and Psoriasis?
Allergies and skin reactions trigger eczema. Psoriasis isn't triggered by allergies. Signs and symptoms of eczema include skin redness, swelling, and itching while psoriasis symptoms and signs include thick, red, itchy, and scaly patches of skin.
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What Is the Best Treatment for Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an incurable chronic autoimmune disorder of the skin that causes patches of thick, flaky, scaly skin, mostly around the scalp, knees, and elbows, though any skin surface may be involved. Some people experience only small patches while others have red, inflamed skin and think scaly patches all over the body. The exact cause of psoriasis is not clear, but it isn’t contagious.
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How Do You Stop Psoriasis From Stress?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that can be passed down (hereditary) to you from your parents or grandparents. Stress is a common factor that can trigger your psoriasis. Psoriasis has a stronger association with psychiatric disorders than other skin diseases. Stress worsens psoriasis by triggering a complex network of signals between the endocrine (hormones), nervous and immune systems.
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What Is the Main Cause of Eczema?
Though the exact cause of eczema is unknown, doctors suspect that it occurs due to an overactive immune system that responds aggressively when exposed to triggers.
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Can You Get Rid of Eczema?
Eczema may be persistent and difficult to treat. A combination of various treatment modalities may be required to treat eczema and control flare-ups.
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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.