Siliq is a prescription medicine FDA-approved for the systemic treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults.
What Is Siliq?
Siliq is a brand-name medication. It contains the active drug brodalumab, a member of a family of medications called monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Monoclonal antibodies are lab-created proteins that can modify your body’s immune response to specific diseases, including cancer.
Suicidal ideation and behavior have occurred in some patients using Siliq. Thus, to monitor for safety, this medication is available only through a special program called Siliq REMS. The program requires a prescriber, patient, and pharmacy to register before prescribing, dispensing, or administering this drug.
Learn more about SIliq REMS here.
No generic versions or other brands of brodalumab are currently available.
What Is Siliq Used To Treat?
Siliq (brodalumab) injection is used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. To be considered for brodalumab treatment, you must have already tried other therapies with little or no success.
Plaque psoriasis is one of the most common forms of psoriasis. People with this condition have raised, red patches covered by silvery scales on their skin. The patches usually appear on the scalp, torso, elbows, and knees.
How Does Siliq Work?
When you have plaque psoriasis, your immune system overproduces certain pro-inflammatory proteins that cause skin inflammation. Siliq prevents these proteins from binding to their receptors in the skin to decrease inflammation and improve psoriasis symptoms.
How Is Siliq Supplied and Used?
Siliq is available as a sterile, colorless to slightly yellow liquid in a single-dose prefilled syringe. Each syringe contains 1.5 ml of liquid, which delivers 210 mg of brodalumab.
You may self-inject Siliq after receiving proper training in the subcutaneous injection technique from your doctor or other healthcare professional.
Proper use, storage, and disposal
- This medication is injected under the skin of your thigh, abdomen, or the outer region of your upper arm.
- Rotate the injection sites each time you administer your dose.
- Avoid injecting into bruised, red, or painful sites and the areas with scars or stretch marks.
- Avoid injecting directly into the patches or lesions.
- Store Siliq in a refrigerator (36°F to 46°F) in the original carton. Avoid freezing and shaking.
- You may store prefilled syringes at room temperature (maximum temperature 77°F) in the original carton for 14 days, protected from light and heat.
- The prefilled syringe should not be stored in the refrigerator once it reaches room temperature.
- Do not use syringes that have been at room temperature for more than 14 days.
- Place the used syringe in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container immediately after use.
- Avoid reusing syringes or throwing them in a regular trash can.
- Click here to learn more about sharps disposal in your state.
Siliq Dosage
The usual dosage is 210 mg/week by SC injection for the first 3 weeks, then 210 mg every 2 weeks.
Duration of treatment
If you do not see improvement in symptoms after 12 to 16 weeks of treatment, your doctor may ask you to stop taking Siliq and prescribe you another medication.
Siliq Side Effects
Side effects can be mild or severe and can vary with each person.
Common side effects
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Mouth or throat pain
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Flu
- Injection site reactions like redness or pain at the injection site
- Low levels of white blood cells
- Fungal infections like athlete’s foot
- Bacterial or viral infections, such as the flu and bronchitis
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if any of these side effects worsen or persist.
Serious side effects
Though rare, serious side effects can sometimes be fatal. Call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical help if you have any of the following:
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior. Symptoms can include new or worsening depression, thoughts of harming yourself, unusual mood changes, and severe anxiety.
- Severe infections. Some users may develop serious infections like meningitis (swelling of the membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord). Symptoms can include fever, stiff neck, and headache.
- Tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. Your doctor will test you for TB before starting Siliq treatment. Moreover, they will likely start anti-TB therapy before prescribing Siliq if you previously had latent or active TB.
- Crohn’s disease (CD). Siliq may cause or worsen CD in some users. Your doctor will ask you to stop using Siliq if you develop Crohn’s disease during treatment. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can include persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
- Interaction with vaccines. Avoid live vaccines while taking this medication.
Allergic reactions
Seek emergency medical help if you experience the following:
- Chest pain
- Hives
- Shortness of breath
- High or low blood pressure
- Fever
- Chills
Use in Pregnancy and Lactation
No human reproduction studies are currently available. Human antibodies can cross the placental barrier; thus, Siliq may pass from the mother to the fetus. For this reason, experts do not recommend using this medication if you are pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Call your doctor immediately if you become pregnant during treatment.
It is unknown if Siliq is present in breast milk or if it harms the breastfed infant. Your doctor may allow you to take this medication while breastfeeding after assessing the potential risks and benefits.
How Much Does Siliq Cost?
Cost can vary depending on your insurance plan, location, and pharmacy. Contact your insurance provider to find out if your plan covers this medication or if you need prior authorization.
Bausch Health Companies Inc., which makes Siliq, offers Instant Savings Program and Patient Assistance Program to help you get access to Siliq treatment.
