An anti-TNF biologic
Golimumab
An injectable anti-TNF biologic used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis.
What is Golimumab?
Golimumab is a biologic medicine that blocks the inflammatory messenger TNF, used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis. It is given by injection under the skin, usually once a month, and is not a tablet. Because it dampens the immune system, serious infection is the main risk, so you are screened for tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C before starting. Live vaccines must be avoided while on it, but routine jabs such as the flu vaccine are encouraged. It is sold under the brand name Simponi.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Golimumab — 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
Golimumab is a biologic medicine, made using living cells rather than as a chemical tablet, and belongs to the anti-TNF group that calms an overactive immune system. It is used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and the bowel condition ulcerative colitis. It is given as an injection under the skin, often only once a month, which many people are taught to do at home. It is sold under the brand name Simponi.
How it works
Golimumab attaches to and blocks tumour necrosis factor (TNF), a central messenger driving inflammation, which helps settle joint swelling, pain, stiffness and bowel inflammation. By lowering TNF it reduces the damage caused by the overactive immune response. Because TNF also helps the body fight infection, blocking it weakens that defence, which is why infections such as tuberculosis can reactivate. The benefit builds over weeks and is reviewed to confirm the condition is responding.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Janssen.
An anti-TNF biologic injection used in the UK for inflammatory arthritis and ulcerative colitis.
What it treats
Conditions Golimumab is used for
Practical use
How to take Golimumab
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It is given by injection under the skin, usually once a month as prescribed, not as a tablet.
- You or a carer can usually be taught to inject at home using a pre-filled pen or syringe, rotating the site each time.
- Use it exactly as prescribed and keep going even when you feel well, as it controls a long-term condition.
- Store it in the fridge as instructed and let an injection reach room temperature before use to reduce stinging.
- Avoid live vaccines while on treatment and tell any healthcare professional that you take a biologic.
- Contact your team promptly if you develop a fever, persistent cough, night sweats or other signs of infection.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Golimumab
Advantages
- Effective at reducing joint pain, swelling and stiffness and at calming ulcerative colitis.
- Convenient once-a-month injection under the skin that is often self-administered at home.
- Can help when earlier treatments have not controlled the condition well.
Disadvantages
- Lowers the body's defences, so serious infections are more likely and need prompt attention.
- Requires tuberculosis and hepatitis screening before starting and ongoing monitoring.
- Cannot be given with live vaccines, and injection-site reactions can occur.
Practical use
Good to know
Golimumab dampens the immune system, so serious infection is the most important risk to understand. Before starting, you will be screened for tuberculosis and for hepatitis B and C, as these can reactivate during treatment. Live vaccines must be avoided while on it, but other vaccines such as the annual flu jab and pneumonia vaccine are encouraged and are best arranged before starting where possible. Report signs of infection, such as fever, persistent cough or night sweats, promptly. Like other anti-TNF medicines it is used with caution in heart failure and in people with a history of nerve conditions affecting the brain or spinal cord, and there is a small, carefully discussed possible signal of certain cancers such as lymphoma. A once-a-month injection suits many people, but it still needs the same screening and monitoring as other anti-TNF treatments.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People with an active serious infection, including active or untreated tuberculosis, should not start it until this is treated.
- It is generally avoided in moderate to severe heart failure and used very cautiously where there is a history of demyelinating nerve disease.
- It should not be used by people who have had a severe allergic reaction to golimumab or its ingredients.
Monitoring
- Screening for tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C before starting, with ongoing watch for infection.
- Regular review of how well the condition is responding and whether to continue.
- Blood tests as advised, particularly if combined with other medicines such as methotrexate.
Side effects
- Injection-site reactions and an increased risk of infections such as colds, chest and urinary infections.
- Headache, rash and feeling generally unwell can occur.
- Less commonly, reactivation of tuberculosis or hepatitis B, and rare serious infections or allergic reactions needing urgent care.
Key interactions
- Should not be combined with live vaccines, which must be avoided during treatment.
- Combining it with another immune-suppressing biologic raises infection risk and is generally avoided.
- It is often used alongside methotrexate in arthritis, which your team will monitor together.
Available as: Pre-filled pen or syringe for injection under the skin.
Answers
Golimumab: frequently asked questions
How often is golimumab given?
It is given by injection under the skin, usually only once a month, and is often self-administered at home with a pre-filled pen or syringe.
Why is screening needed first?
Because golimumab dampens the immune system, you are screened for tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C beforehand, as these can reactivate during treatment.
Can I have vaccines while on it?
Live vaccines must be avoided, but non-live vaccines such as the flu and pneumonia jabs are encouraged, ideally before you start.
What conditions is it used for?
It is used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and the bowel condition ulcerative colitis.
What should I do if I think I have an infection?
Contact your healthcare team promptly if you develop a fever, persistent cough, night sweats or other signs of infection, as these need checking.
The wider class
About Anti-TNF biologic
Golimumab belongs to the anti-tnf 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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