Yusimry

Pronunciation: Ue-sim-ree
Generic name: adalimumab-aqvh
Dosage form: subcutaneous injection
Drug class: TNF alfa inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 26, 2023.

What is Yusimry?

Yusimry is a biosimilar of Humira; it is a TNF alfa inhibitor used to reduce pain, inflammation, and skin symptoms in chronic autoimmune conditions. Yusimry is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and uveitis.

Yusimry (adalimumab-aqvh) is a biosimilar to Humira, biosimilars are biologic medicines that are a very close copy to the original product made by another company. It is not an interchangeable biosimilar.

Yusimry is available as Yusimry Pen, which is a single-dose prefilled pen (40 mg/0.8mL) and also a Single-dose prefilled glass syringe (40 mg/0.8 mL).

How does Yusimry work?

Normally, your immune system defends your body against diseases by fighting harmful bacteria or viruses. However, in autoimmune disorders, the immune system becomes hyperactive and mistakenly attacks its own tissues, leading to symptoms of the autoimmune condition. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a protein that is involved in causing inflammation. Yusimry works as a TNF blocker that inhibits TNF, helping to reduce pain, inflammation, and skin symptoms. Yusimry is a recombinant human monoclonal antibody.

What is Yusimry used for?

Yusimry is FDA-approved to be used to treat the signs and symptoms of: 

Rheumatoid arthritis (adults) that is active and moderate to severe, it can be used alone or in combination with methotrexate or other non-biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). 

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (moderate to severe polyarticular) for children 2 years and older, to be used alone or with methotrexate.

Psoriatic arthritis in adults to be used alone or with other non-biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (moderate to severe) in adults. 

Crohn’s disease (moderate to severe) in patients 6 years of age and older. 

Ulcerative colitis (moderate to severe) in adults. It is not known whether Yusimry is effective in people who stopped responding to or could not tolerate TNF-blocker medicines. 

Plaque psoriasis (chronic and severe) in adults who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills), and when other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate.

Uveitis (UV) for non-infectious intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis in adult patients.

Warnings 

Yusimry affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections.

Before or during treatment with Yusimry, tell your doctor if you have signs of infection such as fever, chills, aches, tiredness, cough, skin sores, diarrhea, or burning when you urinate.

Your doctor should test you for tuberculosis (TB) before you start taking Yusimry and monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment.

The chances of getting cancer may be increased for children and adults taking TNF-blockers.

Before taking this medicine

Before you start using Yusimry, tell your doctor if you have signs of infection - fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, tiredness, cough, bloody mucus, skin sores, diarrhea, burning when you urinate, or feeling constantly tired.

Yusimry should only be used in age groups for the specific conditions that Yusimry is FDA-approved to treat. Children using Yusimry should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• tuberculosis (or if anyone in your household has tuberculosis);
• a chronic infection;
• cancer;
• hepatitis B (Yusimry can cause hepatitis B to come back or get worse);
• diabetes;
• heart failure;
• any numbness or tingling, or a nerve-muscle disorder such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barre syndrome;
• an allergy to latex rubber;
• if you are scheduled to have major surgery; or
• if you have recently received or are scheduled to receive any vaccine.

Tell your doctor where you live and if you have recently traveled or plan to travel. You may be exposed to infections that are common in certain areas of the world.

Yusimry may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. However, anyone with an inflammatory autoimmune disorder may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.

Pregnancy

It is not known whether Yusimry will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Make sure any doctor caring for your newborn baby knows if you used this medicine while you were pregnant, and especially before your baby receives any vaccines.

Breastfeeding

It may be unsafe to breastfeed a baby while using Yusimry. Ask your doctor about any risks and the best way to feed your baby while on this medicine.

How should I use Yusimry?

Use Yusimry exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Yusimry is injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection) using an autoinjector or a prefilled syringe.

The dose schedule for Yusimry depends on the severity and the condition you are treating. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

A healthcare provider will teach you how to use this medicine by yourself properly. Do not inject this medicine if you do not fully understand the instructions for proper use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Do not use this medicine if you have any signs of an infection. Call your doctor for instructions.

Prepare your injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use it if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed color, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Leave the auto-injector or prefilled syringe at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes to allow it to warm up.  Do not warm the prefilled syringe using heat sources such as hot water or a microwave.

Choose an injection site. You may inject into the front of your thighs, and your abdomen except for the 2 in (5 cm) around the belly button (navel). Rotate the injection site each time you give an injection. Each new injection site should be at least 1.2 in (3 cm) away from the injection site you used before.

Do not inject into skin that is red, hard, tender, damaged, bruised, or scarred, and do NOT inject through your clothes.

Yusimry affects your immune system so you may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Your doctor will need to examine you on a regular basis.

Use a needle and syringe only once, then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

Dosing information

Yusimry is available as: 

• Yusimry Pen Injection: 40 mg/0.8 mL in a single-dose pen. 
• Yusimry Prefilled Syringe Injection: 40 mg/0.8 mL in a single-dose prefilled glass syringe. 

The dose and frequency of Yusimry given is dependent on age, severity, and condition treated. For more information on specific dosing schedules, click the link below.

Related/similar drugs

Entyvio, Otezla, Sotyktu, Cimzia, Stelara, prednisone, naproxen, methotrexate, triamcinolone ophthalmic, dexamethasone

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medicine as soon as you remember, and then go back to your regular injection schedule. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while using Yusimry?

Do not inject into skin that is bruised, red, tender, or hard.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Yusimry. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), or zoster (shingles).

Yusimry side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Yusimry: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of lymphoma:

• fever, swollen glands, night sweats, general feeling of illness;
• joint and muscle pain, skin rash, easy bruising or bleeding;
• pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet;
• pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your shoulder; or
• loss of appetite, feeling full after eating only a small amount, weight loss.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

• new or worsening psoriasis (raised, silvery flaking of the skin);
• a sore or bump on your skin that does not heal;
• symptoms of sepsis - confusion, chills, severe drowsiness, fast heartbeats, rapid breathing, feeling very ill;
• liver problems - body aches, tiredness, stomach pain, right-sided upper stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• lupus-like syndrome - joint pain or swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, patchy skin color that worsens in sunlight;
• nerve problems - numbness, tingling, dizziness, vision problems, weakness in your arms or legs; or
• signs of tuberculosis - fever with ongoing cough, weight loss (fat or muscle).

Older adults may be more likely to develop infections or cancer while using Yusimry.

Common side effects of Yusimry may include:

• headache;
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sneezing, sore throat;
• rash; or
• redness, bruising, itching, or swelling where the injection was given.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

What other drugs will affect Yusimry ?

Some drugs should not be used together with Yusimry. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Yusimry especially:

• Abatacep (Orencia) , etanercept (Enbrel);
• Anakinra (Kineret);
• azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol); or
• Certolizumab (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), rituximab (Rituxan).

Avoid the use of live vaccines.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed.

Storage

Store in the refrigerator at 36ºF to 46ºF (2ºC to 8ºC). 

Store in the original carton until use to protect it from light. 

Do not freeze. Do not use Yusimry if frozen, even if it has been thawed.

Storage during traveling:

• If needed, you may also store Yusimry at room temperature up to 77°F (25°C) for up to 14 days.
• Store Yusimry in the original carton until use to protect it from light. 
• Throw away Yusimry if it has been kept at room temperature and not been used within 14 days. 
• Record the date you first remove the medicine from the refrigerator in the spaces provided on the carton and dose tray. 
• Do not store this medicine in extreme heat or cold

Ingredients

Yusimry Active ingredient: adalimumab-aqvh

Inactive ingredients: glycine, L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, polysorbate 80, sodium chloride, and Water for Injection. Sodium hydroxide is added as necessary to adjust the pH. 

Manufacturer

Manufactured by: Coherus BioSciences, Inc., Redwood City, California 94065, USA

Yusimry Biosimilars

Biosimilar and interchangeable products are biological products that are highly similar to and have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product.

Reference products

These are biological products that have already been approved by the FDA, against which biosimilar products are compared. There is 1 for Yusimry.

Humira interchangeable products

Interchangeable biosimilar products can be dispensed by a pharmacist without the intervention of the prescriber of the reference product.

Pharmacy laws for biosimilar prescribing may vary by state.

Humira biosimilar products

Biosimilar products can only be dispensed in place of the reference product if the healthcare provider specifically prescribes the biosimilar product by name.

Pharmacy laws for biosimilar prescribing may vary by state

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Further information

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