Avsola
Generic name:infliximab-axxq
Dosage form: intravenous (infusion) injection
Drug class:TNF alfa inhibitors
What is Avsola?
Avsola (infliximab-axxq) is a monoclonal antibody drug used to treat certain inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Avsola is a biological drug and one of four biosimilars of Remicade (infliximab). Biosimilars are highly similar versions of a drug that are designed to have the same effect, but they are not identical to the original version of the drug.
Avsola works the same as other versions of infliximab and blocks the damage caused by too much tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Avsola binds to TNF-alpha, which prevents it from interacting with its receptors and activating certain processes in your body.
TNF-alpha is a protein and inflammatory cytokine produced by your body, which plays an important role in your normal immune response. It is involved in your inflammatory response, and helps to fight off infection and cancer. Some people produce too much TNF-alpha, however, and this can cause an autoimmune disease to develop.
Avsola was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019, more than 20 years after the original version of infliximab - Remicade - was approved.
What is Avsola used for?
Avsola is a prescription medicine that is approved for patients with:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis - adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, along with the medicine methotrexate.
- Crohn's Disease - children 6 years and older and adults with Crohn's disease who have not responded well to other medicines.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis in adults.
- Psoriatic Arthritis in adults.
- Plaque Psoriasis - adult patients with plaque psoriasis that is chronic (does not go away), severe, extensive, and/or disabling.
- Ulcerative Colitis - children 6 years and older and adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who have not responded well to other medicines.
It is not known if Avsola is safe and effective in children under 6 years of age.
Important information
Avsola may cause serious side effects, including:
1. Risk of infection
Avsola is a medicine that affects your immune system. Avsola can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Serious infections have happened in patients receiving Avsola. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections.
- Your doctor should test you for TB bef...
