Hukyndra

Hukyndra is available for injection under the skin in a pre-filled syringe or pen and is usually given every 2 weeks. The dose and frequency of injection depend on the condition to be treated and the dose for a child is usually calculated according to the child’s weight; because Hukyndra is only available in doses of 40 or 80 mg, it is not suitable for children who need less than a 40-mg dose. After training, patients or their carers may inject Hukyndra if their doctor considers it appropriate.

Hukyndra can only be obtained with a prescription and treatment must be started and supervised by a doctor who has experience in the treatment of the diseases for which Hukyndra is used. Eye specialists treating uveitis should also take advice from doctors who have experience of using adalimumab.

For more information about using Hukyndra, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.

The active substance in Hukyndra, adalimumab, is a monoclonal antibody (a type of protein) that has been designed to recognise and attach to a substance in the body called tumour necrosis factor (TNF). TNF is involved in causing inflammation and is found at high levels in patients with the diseases that Hukyndra is used to treat. By attaching to TNF, adalimumab blocks its activity, thereby reducing inflammation and other symptoms of the diseases.

Laboratory studies comparing Hukyndra with Humira have shown that the active substance in Hukyndra is highly similar to that in Humira in terms of structure, purity and biological activity. Studies have also shown that giving Hukyndra produces similar levels of the active substance in the body to giving Humira.

In addition, a study involving 412 adult patients with plaque psoriasis has shown that Hukyndra was as effective as Humira in controlling the disease; average scores measuring the extent and severity of the condition improved by 91% after 16 weeks of treatment with either medicine.

Because Hukyndra is a biosimilar medicine, the studies on effectiveness and safety of adalimumab carried out with Humira do not all need to be repeated for Hukyndra.

The safety of Hukyndra has been evaluated and, on the basis of all the studies carried out, the side effects of the medicine are considered to be comparable to those of the reference medicine Humira.

The most common side effects with adalimumab (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) are infections (including in the nose, throat and sinuses), injection site reactions (redness, itching, bleeding, pain or swelling), headache and muscle and bone pain. Like other medicines of its class, Hukyndra may affect the ability of the immune system to fight off infections and cancer, and there have been some cases of serious infections and blood cancers in patients using adalimumab.

Other rare serious side effects of adalimumab (which may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) include failure of bone marrow to produce blood cells, disorder of the nerves, lupus and lupus-like conditions (where the immune system attacks the patient’s own tissues, causing inflammation and organ damage), and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (life-threatening reaction with flu-like symptoms and painful rash affecting the skin, mouth, eyes and genitals).

Hukyndra must not be used in patients with active tuberculosis or other severe infections, or in patients with moderate to severe heart failure (an inability of the heart to pump enough blood around the body).

For the full list of side effects and restrictions with Hukyndra, see the package leaflet.

The European Medicines Agency decided that, in accordance with EU requirements for biosimilar medicines, Hukyndra has a highly similar structure, purity and biological activity to Humira and is distributed in the body in the same way. In addition, studies in adults with plaque psoriasis have shown that the safety and effectiveness of Hukyndra is equivalent to that of Humira in this group.

All these data were considered sufficient to conclude that Hukyndra will behave in the same way as Humira in terms of effectiveness and safety in its authorised uses. Therefore, the Agency’s view was that, as for Humira, the benefits of Hukyndra outweigh the identified risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU.

Patients treated with Hukyndra must be given a reminder card with information on the safety of the medicine.

Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Hukyndra have also been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.

As for all medicines, data on the use of Hukyndra are continuously monitored. Suspected side effects reported with Hukyndra are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.

Hukyndra received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 15 November 2021.