Agent

Mechanism of action

Agent specific absolute contraindication

Comment

Adalimumab

Anti-TNF-α human monoclonal antibody

Active tuberculosis or other severe infections such as sepsis, and opportunistic infections.

Moderate to severe heart failure (NYHA class III/IV).

Subcutaneous application every 2 weeks;

Washout period 6 - 10 weeks;

Registered biosimilars on the market

Brodalumab

Anti-IL-17 Rec A human monoclonal antibody

Crohn’s disease

Clinically important active infections (e.g. active tuberculosis)

Subcutaneous application, maintenance dosing every 2 weeks subcutaneously

Etanercept

TNF-α receptor, chimeric human-murine fusion protein

Active infections (including sepsis, or risk of sepsis, tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections, chronic or localised infections)

Subcutaneous application once or twice weekly;

Washout period 1 - 2 weeks;

Registered biosimilars on the market

Guselkumab

Anti IL-23 fully human immunoglobulin G1 lambda (IgG1λ) monoclonal antibody

Clinically important active infection (e.g. active tuberculosis)

Subcutaneous application, maintenance dosing every 8 weeks

Infliximab

Anti-TNF-α chimeric human-murine monoclonal antibody

Active tuberculosis

Significant active infection, abscesses, and opportunistic infections

Chronic heart failure (NYHA class III/IV).

Hypersensitivity to murine proteins.

Intravenous application, maintenance dosing every 8 weeks;

Washout period 3.5 - 6 weeks;

Registered biosimilars on the market

Ixekizumab

Anti-IL-17A and IL-17A/F recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody

Clinically important active infections (e.g. active tuberculosis).

Subcutaneous application,

maintenance dosing every 4 weeks

Infections and treatment-emergent adverse events were more common in the ixekizumab group than in the etanercept and placebo groups

Risankizumab

Anti IL-23 humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody

Clinically important active infection (e.g. active tuberculosis)

Subcutaneous application, maintenance dosing four times per year