Tildrakizumab (Ilumya) for Psoriasis: Dosing, Cost & Indian Availability
Tildrakizumab is worth understanding on its own terms, separate from the other IL-23 inhibitors covered elsewhere on this site — because unlike guselkumab and risankizumab, it has actually been launched commercially in India, by an Indian pharmaceutical company, with its own India-based clinical trial behind it. That’s a meaningfully different access situation, and it’s worth knowing before you and your doctor discuss it.
What Is Tildrakizumab and How Does It Work?
Tildrakizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody, originally developed by Merck and later acquired by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, that targets the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23) — the same broad inflammatory pathway targeted by guselkumab and risankizumab. Internationally it’s sold under the brand name Ilumya.
Tildrakizumab’s Availability in India: Actually Launched Here
This is where tildrakizumab stands apart from several other newer biologics: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries — one of India’s largest pharmaceutical companies — launched Ilumya commercially in India as its own product, rather than it arriving only through Named Patient import. Sun Pharma also ran its own Indian clinical study of 115 moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients as part of bringing the drug to the Indian market, which means there’s India-specific efficacy data behind its local launch, not just data extrapolated from international trials.
In that Indian study, patients received three subcutaneous injections over 16 weeks (on Day 1, Week 4, and Week 16) and were followed through week 28. The results were:
- PASI 75 (75% skin clearance): 62.3% of patients at Week 12, rising to 83.3% at Week 16 and 93.9% at Week 28
- PASI 90 (90% skin clearance): 26.3% at Week 12, rising to 50% at Week 16 and 78.1% at Week 28
The clear pattern — response continuing to deepen well past the initial 12–16 week mark — is consistent with how IL-23 inhibitors tend to behave generally, and it’s genuinely reassuring to have that pattern confirmed in an Indian patient population rather than only in US or European trial data.
Tildrakizumab Dosing
The standard labeled maintenance dosing schedule is:
- 100 mg by subcutaneous injection at Week 0
- 100 mg again at Week 4
- 100 mg every 12 weeks thereafter as maintenance
Like risankizumab, this works out to roughly four maintenance injections a year, which many patients find considerably easier to sustain than a monthly regimen.
What Tildrakizumab Costs and Why Local Availability Matters
Because tildrakizumab is manufactured and distributed within India by Sun Pharma rather than reaching patients through individual import, it avoids the added customs duties, facilitation fees, and shipment-delay risk that apply to biologics accessed only via Named Patient Programs (as is currently the case for guselkumab and risankizumab, covered in our companion guides). This generally makes both the cost and the treatment timeline more predictable. Exact current pricing should be confirmed directly with your treating hospital pharmacy, since biologic pricing is reviewed periodically — see our broader psoriasis treatment cost guide for how to budget for a full year of biologic therapy realistically.
Who Is Tildrakizumab Typically Considered For?
Tildrakizumab is approved for adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Its infrequent dosing schedule and locally available supply chain make it a practical option worth discussing for patients who want an IL-23 inhibitor without the added logistics of individual drug import.
Side Effects
The most commonly reported side effects in trials were upper respiratory infections, injection site reactions, diarrhea, and nausea. Standard pre-treatment screening for latent tuberculosis and active infection applies, as it does for all biologics in this class.
This article is for general education and does not replace a consultation with a qualified dermatologist. Confirm current availability, pricing, and candidacy directly with your treating doctor.
