Spesolimab Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 17, 2025.

Applies to spesolimab: intravenous solution.

Serious side effects of spesolimab

Along with its needed effects, spesolimab may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking spesolimab:

More common side effects

• bladder pain
• bloody or cloudy urine
• difficult, burning, or painful urination
• frequent urge to urinate
• large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
• lower back or side pain

Less common side effects

• blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
• bruising at the injection site
• body aches or pain
• chest pain
• chills
• cough
• coughing or spitting up blood
• ear congestion
• fever
• headache
• itching of the vagina or genitals
• loss of voice
• muscle aches
• night sweats
• sneezing
• sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose
• sudden high fever or low-grade fever for months
• swelling
• thick, white vaginal discharge with mild or no odor
• trouble breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

• black, tarry stools
• bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
• inability to move the arms and legs
• painful or difficult urination
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs
• swollen glands
• unusual bleeding or bruising

Other side effects of spesolimab

Some side effects of spesolimab may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

• change in hearing
• diarrhea
• earache
• ear drainage
• itching ears
• lack or loss of strength
• nausea
• vomiting

Less common side effects

• hives, itching, or skin rash
• swelling of the eye

For healthcare professionals

Applies to spesolimab: intravenous solution, subcutaneous solution.

General adverse events

The most common adverse effects were infections. Infection occurred in 14% of patients during the first week of treatment as compared to 6% in the placebo group. The majority of infections reported were mild (29%) to moderate (71%).^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Gastritis, nausea and vomiting, oral herpes^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Cellulitis, furuncle, herpes dermatitis, pruritus and prurigo, subcutaneous abscess, urticaria^[Ref]

Two patients experienced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). The validation scoring for reported cases were "no DRESS" and "possible DRESS".^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Bacteriuria, urinary tract infection, vulvovaginal candidiasis, vulvovaginal mycotic infection^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Infusion site hematoma and bruising

Not reported: Injection site reactions^[Ref]

During clinical trials, injection site reactions (including injection site erythema, injection site swelling, injection site pain, injection site induration, and injection site warmth) were observed.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Guillain-Barre syndrome^[Ref]

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Eye edema^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia and fatigue, bacteremia, device-related infection, otitis externa^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, influenza, latent tuberculosis, upper respiratory tract infection^[Ref]

Further information

Spesolimab side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer