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Tremfya (guselkumab)

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By Editorial Team

2 min read

Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: October 2023 | Last updated: January 2024

Tremfya® (guselkumab) is a prescription drug used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or light therapy. Systemic drugs are medicines that affect the whole body, not just the skin. Light therapy involves controlled exposure of your affected skin to ultraviolet light.1,2

Tremfya is also approved to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis.1

What are the ingredients in Tremfya?

The active ingredient in Tremfya is guselkumab.1

How does Tremfya work?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to mistakenly activate and trigger inflammation. This inflammation causes tissue damage and creates plaques on the skin.3

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Tremfya is a biologic drug that works by blocking interleukin (IL)-23. IL-23 is a chemical messenger that is involved in the inflammatory process. By blocking IL-23, Tremfya stops the immune system from releasing the chemical messengers that increase inflammation. In turn, this reduces the symptoms of psoriasis.1,2

What are the possible side effects?

The most common side effects of Tremfya include:1

  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Joint pain
  • Skin infections
  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Herpes simplex infections
  • Injection site reactions
  • Stomach flu
  • Bronchitis

These are not all the possible side effects of Tremfya. Talk to your doctor about what to expect when taking Tremfya. You also should call your doctor if you have any changes that concern you when taking Tremfya.

Other things to know

Before starting treatment with Tremfya, tell your doctor if you have:1

  • An infection that does not go away or keeps coming back.
  • Tuberculosis (TB) or have been in close contact with someone with TB.
  • Recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine. You should not receive certain vaccines during treatment with Tremfya.

Taking Tremfya can reduce your body’s ability to fight off infections. For this reason, your doctor will test you for tuberculosis before starting treatment. They also will continue to monitor you throughout treatment for signs of any other infections.1

There is not enough data to know if Tremfya is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. Before starting treatment with Tremfya, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. They can help you decide if Tremfya is right for you.1

Before beginning treatment for psoriasis, tell your doctor about all your health conditions and any other drugs, vitamins, or supplements you are taking. This includes over-the-counter drugs.

For more information, read the full prescribing information of Tremfya.