Taltz

Generic name: ixekizumab
Brand names: Taltz Autoinjector, Taltz Prefilled Syringe
Drug class: Interleukin inhibitors

Medically reviewed by  A Ras MD

What is Taltz?

Taltz is a prescription medicine used to treat people 6 years of age and older with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet or UV light). It is also used in adults with active psoriatic arthritis. Taltz can be used alone or with the medicine methotrexate. Other indications are adults with active ankylosing spondylitis, adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation.

It is not known if Taltz is safe and effective in children for conditions other than plaque psoriasis or in children under 6 years of age.

Description

Ixekizumab is a humanized immunoglobulin G subclass 4 (IgG4) monoclonal antibody (mAb) with neutralizing activity against IL-17A. Ixekizumab is produced by recombinant DNA technology in a recombinant mammalian cell line and purified using standard technology for bioprocessing. Ixekizumab is comprised of two identical light chain polypeptides of 219 amino acids each and two identical heavy chain polypeptides of 445 amino acids each, and has a molecular weight of 146,158 Daltons for the protein backbone of the molecule.

TALTZ injection is a sterile, preservative free, clear and colorless to slightly yellow solution, for subcutaneous use available as 80 mg of ixekizumab in a 1 mL single-dose prefilled autoinjector or a single-dose prefilled syringe. The prefilled autoinjector and prefilled syringe each contain a 1 mL glass syringe with a fixed 27 gauge ½ inch needle. The TALTZ 80 mg prefilled autoinjector and prefilled syringe are manufactured to deliver 80 mg of ixekizumab.

Each mL is composed of ixekizumab (80 mg); Polysorbate 80, USP (0.3 mg); Sucrose, USP (80 mg); and Water for Injection, USP. Sodium Hydroxide, USP-NF, may have been added to adjust pH. The TALTZ solution has a pH of 5.2 –  6.2.

Mechanism of Action

Ixekizumab is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds with the interleukin 17A (IL-17A) cytokine and inhibits its interaction with the IL-17 receptor. IL-17A is a naturally occurring cytokine that is involved in normal inflammatory and immune responses. Ixekizumab inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

What is the most important information I should know about Taltz?

Taltz is a medicine that affects your immune system. Taltz may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections, which can sometimes become serious.

• Your healthcare provider should check you for tuberculosis (TB) before you start treatment with Taltz.
• Your healthcare provider may treat you with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with Taltz if you have a past history of TB or have TB.
• Your healthcare provider should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during and after treatment with Taltz.

Before starting Taltz, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• are being treated for an infection
• have an infection that does not go away or that keeps coming back
• have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB
• think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as:
  • fever, sweats, or chills
  • muscle aches
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • blood in your phlegm (mucus)
  • weight loss
  • warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
  • diarrhea or stomach pain
  • burning when you urinate or urinate more often than normal

After starting Taltz, call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms of infection listed above.
Do not use Taltz if you have any symptoms of infection unless you are instructed to by your healthcare provider.
See “What are the possible side effects of Taltz?” for more information about side effects.

Who should not use Taltz?

Do not use Taltz if you have had a severe allergic reaction to ixekizumab or any of the other ingredients in Taltz.
See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Taltz.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Taltz?

Before using Taltz, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have any of the conditions or symptoms listed in the section “What is the most important information I should know about Taltz?”
• have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). You should avoid receiving live vaccines during treatment with Taltz.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Taltz can harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Taltz passes into your breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How should I use Taltz?

See the detailed Instructions for use that comes with your Taltz for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of Taltz, and how to properly throw away (dispose of) used Taltz autoinjectors and prefilled syringes.

• Use Taltz exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• For children weighing 110 pounds (50 kg) or less, Taltz must be given by a healthcare provider. Taltz will be given every 4 weeks.
• For children weighing more than 110 pounds (50 kg), if your healthcare provider decides that your caregiver may give your injections of Taltz at home, your caregiver should ask and receive training from the healthcare provider on the right way to prepare and inject Taltz. Taltz will be given every 4 weeks.
• For adults, if your healthcare provider decides that you or a caregiver may give your injections of Taltz at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject Taltz. Do not try to inject Taltz yourself, until you or your caregiver have been shown how to inject Taltz.
• Taltz comes in an autoinjector and a prefilled syringe that you or your caregiver may use at home to give injections. Your healthcare provider will decide which type of Taltz is best for you to use at home.
• Taltz is given as an injection under your skin (subcutaneous injection), in your thighs or stomach area (abdomen) by you or a caregiver. A caregiver may also give you an injection of Taltz in the back of your arm.
• Do not give an injection in an area of the skin that is tender, bruised, red or hard, or in an area of skin that is affected by psoriasis.
• Each Taltz injection should be given at a different site. Do not use the 1 inch area around your navel (belly button).

If you forget to take your dose:

• Do not miss any doses of Taltz unless your healthcare provider says it is okay. If you forget to take your Taltz dose, inject a dose as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose at your regular scheduled time.
• If you inject more Taltz than prescribed, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What are the possible side effects of Taltz?

Taltz may cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about Taltz?”
• Serious allergic reactions. If you have a severe allergic reaction, do not give another injection of Taltz. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:
  • feel faint
  • swelling of your face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • trouble breathing or throat tightness
  • chest tightness
  • skin rash
• Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (Inflammatory bowel disease) can happen during treatment with Taltz, including worsening symptoms. Tell your healthcare provider if you have new or worsening symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease during treatment with Taltz, including:
  • stomach (abdomen) pain
  • diarrhea with or without blood
  • weight loss

The most common side effects of Taltz in adults and children include:

• injection site reactions
• upper respiratory infections
• nausea
• fungal infections

These are not all of the possible side effects of Taltz. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

General information about the safe and effective use of Taltz

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use Taltz for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Taltz to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about Taltz that is written for health professionals.

How should I store Taltz?

• Protect Taltz from light.
• Store Taltz in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
  • If needed, you or a caregiver may store Taltz at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) for up to 5 days in the original carton to protect from light. Once Taltz has been stored at room temperature, do not return to the refrigerator. Throw away Taltz if it is not used within 5 days at room temperature.
  • Record the date when Taltz is first removed from the refrigerator in the spaces provided on the carton.
  • For the 2 or 3 autoinjector pack, remove a single autoinjector at a time leaving the remaining autoinjector(s) in the original carton in the refrigerator. Ensure the unrefrigerated Taltz is protected from light.
• Do not freeze Taltz. Do not use if Taltz has been frozen.
• Do not shake Taltz.

Keep Taltz and all medicines out of the reach of children.

What are the ingredients in Taltz?

Active ingredient: ixekizumab

Inactive ingredients: Citric Acid Anhydrous, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate Dihydrate, and Water for Injection

Not made with natural rubber latex.

For more information about Taltz, call 1-800-545-5979 (1-800-LillyRx) or go to the following website: www.taltz.com.

Label

PACKAGE CARTON – TALTZ AUTOINJECTOR 80 MG

 

• taltz®
• (ixekizumab)
  injection
• 80 mg/mL
• For Subcutaneous Use Only
• 1 Single-Dose prefilled autoinjector
• Discard any unused product.
• NDC 0002-1445-11
• 1 x 1 mL Single-Dose prefilled autoinjector
• Rx Only
• Dispense enclosed Medication Guide to each patient.
• Lilly

PACKAGE CARTON – TALTZ PREFILLED SYRINGE 80 MG

• taltz®
• (ixekizumab)
  injection
• 80 mg/mL
• For Subcutaneous Use Only
• 1 Single-Dose prefilled syringe
• Discard any unused product.
• NDC 0002-7724-11
• 1 x 1 mL Single-Dose prefilled syringe
• Rx Only
• Dispense enclosed Medication Guide to each patient.
• Lilly

Instructions for use for Taltz

Taltz (tol(t)s) (ixekizumab)
injection, for subcutaneous use

• Autoinjector
• Prefilled Syringe

Autoinjector

Before you use the Taltz autoinjector, read and carefully follow all the step-by-step instructions.

Important information:

• Your healthcare provider or nurse should show you how to prepare and inject Taltz using the autoinjector. Do not inject yourself or someone else until you have been shown how to inject Taltz.
• You and your caregiver should read this Instructions for Use before you start using Taltz and each time you get a refill. Keep the Instructions for Use and refer to them as needed.
• Each Taltz autoinjector contains 1 dose of Taltz. The autoinjector is for one-time use only.
• The autoinjector contains glass parts. Handle autoinjector carefully. If you drop it on a hard surface, do not use it. Use a new Taltz autoinjector for your injection.
• Your healthcare provider may help you decide where on your body to inject your dose. Do not give an injection in an area of the skin that is tender, bruised, red or hard, or in an area of skin that is affected by psoriasis. Read the “choose your injection site” section of these instructions to help you choose which area can work best for you.
• If you have vision or hearing problems, do not use Taltz autoinjector without help from a caregiver.

Before you use the Taltz autoinjector, read and carefully follow all the step-by-step instructions.

Parts of the Taltz autoinjector

1. Get Ready

1a. Take the Taltz autoinjector from the refrigerator.

• Remove the autoinjector from the package. Put the original package with any unused autoinjectors back in the refrigerator.
• Leave the base cap on until you are ready to inject.
• Wait 30 minutes to let the autoinjector warm to room temperature before you use it.
• Do not microwave the autoinjector, run hot water over it, or leave it in direct sunlight.
• Do not shake the autoinjector.

1b. Gather the supplies needed for your injection:

• 1 alcohol wipe
• 1 cotton ball or piece of gauze
• 1 sharps disposal container. See “dispose of the used autoinjector”

1c. Inspect the autoinjector.

• Make sure the name Taltz appears on the label.
• The medicine inside should be clear. Its color may be colorless to slightly yellow.

Do not use the autoinjector, and dispose of as directed by your healthcare provider or pharmacist if:

• the expiration date printed on the label has passed.
• it looks damaged.
• the medicine is frozen.
• the medicine is cloudy, discolored, or has small particles. The medicine should look clear and colorless to slightly yellow.

1d. Wash your hands with soap and water before you inject Taltz.

1e. Choose your injection site.

You may inject in your stomach area (abdomen) or in your thigh, or in the back of your arm. To inject in your arm, you will need someone to help you.Do not give an injection into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red or hard, or in an area of skin that is affected by psoriasis.Do not inject within 1 inch of the navel (belly button). Alternate your injection sites.

• Do not inject in the exact same spot every time. For example, if your last injection was in your left thigh, your next injection should be in your right thigh, your abdomen, or the back of either arm.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about where on your body to best inject Taltz.

1f. Prepare your skin. Clean your injection site with an alcohol wipe. Let the injection site dry before you inject Taltz.

2. Inject Taltz

2a. Make sure the lock ring is in the lock position.

• Leave the base cap on until you are ready to inject.
• Do not touch the needle.

Twist off the base cap in the direction of the arrows.

• Throw the base cap in the trash. You will not need to put the base cap back on. If you do, you could damage the needle or stick yourself by accident.

2b. Place the clear base flat and firmly against your skin at the injection site.

2c. While holding the clear base against your skin, turn the lock ring to the unlock position. You are now ready to inject.

2d. Press the green injection button. There will be a loud click.

• Keep holding the clear base firmly against your skin.
• You will hear a second click in about 10 seconds after the first one. The second click tells you that your injection is complete.
• You will see the gray plunger at the top of the clear base.
• Remove the autoinjector from your skin.
• Press a cotton ball or gauze over the injection site. Do not rub the injection site, as this may cause bruising. You may have slight bleeding. This is normal.
• Do not put the base cap back on the autoinjector.

3. Dispose of (throw away) the used autoinjector.

3a. Put the used Taltz autoinjector in a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away (dispose of) the Taltz autoinjector in your household trash.

• If you do not have a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, you may use a household container that is:
  • made of a heavy-duty plastic,
  • can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out,
  • upright and stable during use,
  • leak-resistant, and
  • properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container.
• When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you will need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you should throw away needles and syringes. For more information about safe sharps disposal, and for specific information about sharps disposal in the state you live in, go to the FDA’s website at: http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal
• Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.

SRC: NLM .