Siliq (brodalumab)
Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: October 2023 | Last updated: October 2023
Siliq® (brodalumab) is a prescription treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults 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
Siliq is a biologic therapy. Biologics are drugs made from living cells. The process of making biologics turns products made from cells into drugs that can prevent, treat, and cure disease. These are different from most traditional drugs. Traditional drugs are made from chemicals in a lab. Their ingredients are not directly derived from living cells.3
What are the ingredients in Siliq?
The active ingredient in Siliq is brodalumab.1
How does Siliq work?
In people with plaque psoriasis, the immune system is mistakenly activated and begins to damage healthy tissue. This inflammation causes tissue damage and leads to plaques on the skin.4
Siliq is a biologic drug that targets interleukin-17 receptor A (IL-17RA). IL-17RA is a chemical messenger that plays a key role in inflammation. By blocking IL-17RA, Siliq stops the immune system from making chemicals that increase inflammation and lead to psoriasis symptoms.1
What are the possible side effects?
The most common side effects of Siliq include:1
- Joint pain
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Diarrhea
- Mouth or throat pain
- Nausea
- Muscle pain
- Injection site reactions
- Flu
- Low white blood cell counts
- Skin fungal infections
Siliq has a boxed warning, the strictest warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has this warning because suicidal thoughts and behavior, including completed suicides, have occurred in people taking Siliq. This risk is higher in people with a history of depression or previous suicidal ideas and behavior.1
Because of the risk linked to Slilia, it is part of a restricted program called the Siliq REMS program. Only certified prescribers and pharmacies may prescribe or dispense Siliq. You must also talk to your doctor and understand the benefits and risks of Siliq, and agree to all the instructions.1
These are not all the possible side effects of Siliq. Talk to your doctor about what to expect when taking Siliq. You also should call your doctor if you have any changes that concern you when taking Siliq.
Other things to know
Before starting treatment with Siliq, tell your doctor if you have:1
- A history of mental health issues, including thoughts of self-harm, depression, anxiety, or mood problems.
- An infection that does not go away or keeps coming back.
- Tuberculosis (TB) or have been in close contact with someone with TB.
- Have recently received or are schedule to receive any vaccines. You should not receive certain vaccines during treatment with Siliq.
Taking Siliq 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
Siliq is prescribed as a single-dose, prefilled syringe. Your doctor will tell you how often it should be injected and train you on the right way to prepare and inject Siliq.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 Siliq.
