Anti-IL-17RA monoclonal antibody Pregnancy: No human data to inform a drug-associated risk; human IgG antibodies cross the placenta so brodalumab may be transmitted from mother to developing fetus. No adverse developmental effects in monkeys at doses up to 26 times the maximum recommended human dose (US labelling §8.1)

Brodalumab

Brand names: Kyntheum

Brodalumab is a human monoclonal antibody used for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who have not responded adequately to other systemic therapies.

Adult dose

Dose: 210 mg

Route: Subcutaneous injection

Frequency: At weeks 0, 1 and 2, followed by 210 mg every 2 weeks

NO UK SPC WAS FETCHED - dose taken from the US prescribing information for SILIQ (brodalumab), plaque psoriasis. Verify against the UK SPC before use. If an adequate response has not been achieved after 12 to 16 weeks of treatment, consider discontinuing therapy; continued treatment beyond 16 weeks in patients who have not achieved an adequate response is not likely to result in greater success. Evaluate patients for tuberculosis infection prior to initiating treatment. Supplied as a single-dose prefilled syringe delivering 210 mg in 1.5 mL; allow to reach room temperature (about 30 minutes) before injecting; do not inject into skin that is tender, bruised, red, hard, thick, scaly or affected by psoriasis. Intended for use under the guidance and supervision of a healthcare professional; patients may self-inject after proper training. US labelling carries warnings on suicidal ideation and behaviour, serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, serious infections, tuberculosis, eczematous eruptions and Crohn's disease; avoid live vaccines. Paediatric: safety and effectiveness have not been evaluated in paediatric patients - no paediatric dose is stated.

Dose independently re-sourced from US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — clinician-reviewed. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Contraindications

Crohn's disease (brodalumab may cause worsening of disease)
Clinically significant hypersensitivity to brodalumab or to any of the excipients or component of the container

Side effects

Arthralgia and myalgia
Headache and fatigue
Diarrhoea, nausea and oropharyngeal pain
Injection site reactions
Influenza, tinea infections and neutropenia
Serious: suicidal ideation and behaviour, serious infections, Crohn's disease, hypersensitivity including anaphylaxis

Interactions

CYP450 substrates - on initiation or discontinuation of brodalumab in patients receiving CYP450 substrates, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic index, consider monitoring for effect (e.g. warfarin) or drug concentration (e.g. ciclosporin) and consider dose modification
Avoid using live vaccines concurrently with brodalumab (US labelling §5.8)

Clinical monograph

How it works

It binds the interleukin-17 receptor A subunit, blocking signalling of several IL-17 cytokines and thereby reducing the inflammation that drives psoriatic plaques.

Prescribing in practice

Suicidal ideation and behaviour, including completed suicide, have been reported; assess psychiatric history and advise patients and carers to report new or worsening mood symptoms, and discontinue if such symptoms emerge.
Screen for tuberculosis and active infection before starting, and avoid in patients with active Crohn's disease as IL-17 inhibition can exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease.
Live vaccines should be avoided during treatment.

Monitoring

Monitor for signs of infection and for new or worsening depression, mood changes or suicidal ideation throughout treatment.

Counselling the patient

This is a self-injected treatment; you will be taught the correct technique.
Seek urgent help if you experience new or worsening low mood or thoughts of self-harm.
Tell your clinician promptly about any signs of infection.

Evidence & guidelines

Brodalumab is recommended by NICE as an option for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis under its usual biologic eligibility criteria.

Reference: NICE TA511; BAD biologics guideline; MHRA; SmPC; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways