An injection that blocks the IL-17 receptor for psoriasis
Brodalumab
A biologic injection used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis by blocking an inflammation signal.
What is Brodalumab?
Brodalumab is a specialist biologic injection used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults. It works by blocking the receptor for interleukin-17, a signal that drives the inflammation behind psoriasis, helping to clear the skin. It is given as an injection under the skin. It carries a specific warning about thoughts of self-harm or suicide, and is provided through a risk-management programme; the team checks mood at each visit. Because it dampens part of the immune system, it can raise the risk of infections, including thrush, and people are screened for tuberculosis first and watched for bowel symptoms.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Brodalumab — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Brodalumab is a biologic medicine used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, a long-term skin condition that causes red, scaly, often itchy patches. It is a type of antibody given as an injection under the skin, used in adults whose psoriasis has not responded well enough to other treatments. It blocks the receptor that a key inflammation signal, interleukin-17, acts on. Because of a specific safety concern about mood, it is provided through a risk-management programme, and it is prescribed and supervised by a specialist skin service.
How it works
Psoriasis is driven by an overactive immune response in the skin, in which a signal called interleukin-17 (IL-17) tells skin cells to grow too fast and become inflamed. Brodalumab blocks the receptor that IL-17 acts on, so several forms of this signal are switched off at once. This calms the inflammation and slows the rapid skin-cell turnover, allowing the plaques to clear. Because IL-17 also helps the body fight certain infections, blocking its receptor can make some infections, particularly thrush (candida), more likely.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.
A specialist biologic injection used in the UK to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults when other treatments have not worked well enough.
Practical use
How to take Brodalumab
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It is given as an injection under the skin, often by the person themselves after training.
- Tell your team straight away, or seek urgent help, if you notice low mood or any thoughts of harming yourself.
- Report signs of infection, such as a sore mouth, fever or a persistent cough, as infections can be more likely.
- Have your tuberculosis screening before starting and mention any bowel symptoms, such as ongoing diarrhoea or tummy pain.
- Avoid live vaccines unless your specialist says otherwise, and tell other healthcare staff you are on this medicine.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Brodalumab
Advantages
- Can clear the skin well in moderate-to-severe psoriasis when other treatments have not worked enough.
- Given as an injection under the skin, which can be done at home after training.
- Targets a specific inflammation signal involved in psoriasis.
Disadvantages
- Carries a specific warning about thoughts of self-harm or suicide and is used within a risk-management programme.
- Can raise the risk of infections, including thrush, and requires tuberculosis screening first.
- Needs caution in people with inflammatory bowel disease, which can flare.
Practical use
Good to know
The most important safety point with brodalumab is a specific warning about thoughts of self-harm or suicide: it is provided through a risk-management programme, and the team will ask about mood at each visit and advise telling them or seeking help urgently if low mood or such thoughts develop. Because it dampens part of the immune system, it can make infections more likely, including thrush in the mouth or elsewhere, so any signs of infection should be reported. People are screened for tuberculosis (TB) before starting, as the medicine can reactivate a hidden infection. It should be used with caution in anyone with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease, which can flare. Live vaccines are generally avoided while on it, and it is usually paused around serious infections. The upside is that it can clear the skin well when other treatments have not done enough.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to brodalumab should not use it.
- It is generally avoided or used with great caution in people with current or past suicidal thoughts or behaviour.
- It is avoided in people with an active serious infection until it is treated, and used with care in Crohn's disease.
- It should only be used under specialist supervision within its risk-management programme.
Monitoring
- Asking about mood at each visit, given the warning about thoughts of self-harm.
- Tuberculosis screening before treatment and watching for signs of infection during it.
- Watching for bowel symptoms that could suggest inflammatory bowel disease.
Side effects
- Reactions where the injection is given, and a higher chance of infections such as thrush.
- Sore throat, joint aches or headache in some people.
- Mood changes, including, importantly, thoughts of self-harm, which must be reported urgently.
- Rarely, a flare or new onset of inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease.
Key interactions
- Live vaccines are generally avoided while on it, as the immune response is dampened.
- Combining it with other medicines that suppress the immune system can add to infection risk.
- Tell your team about all your medicines and any planned vaccinations.
Available as: A solution for injection under the skin.
Answers
Brodalumab: frequently asked questions
What is brodalumab used for?
It is used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults, by blocking the receptor for interleukin-17, a signal that drives the inflammation behind psoriasis.
Why are mood and thoughts of self-harm mentioned?
Brodalumab carries a specific warning about thoughts of self-harm or suicide, so it is used within a risk-management programme and your team will ask about mood; seek urgent help if such thoughts arise.
Does it increase infections?
Yes, because it dampens part of the immune system it can make infections, including thrush, more likely, and you are screened for tuberculosis before starting.
Can I have it if I have Crohn's disease?
It is used with caution in inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease, which can flare, so tell your specialist and report any bowel symptoms.
Can I have vaccines while on it?
Live vaccines are generally avoided while on brodalumab; check with your specialist before any vaccination.
The wider class
About Interleukin-17 receptor inhibitor (biologic)
Brodalumab belongs to the interleukin-17 receptor inhibitor (biologic) class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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