Two medicines, side by side
Risankizumab vs ustekinumab
Risankizumab and ustekinumab are both labeled for crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Pharmacies paid $22,774.36 per mL (Skyrizi 150 mg/mL pen) and $29,874.45 per mL (Stelara 45 mg/0.5 mL syringe) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, risankizumab is an interleukin-23 antagonist and ustekinumab an interleukin-12 antagonist.
Check it at the source: the risankizumab FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 15, 2026); the ustekinumab FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 8, 2026).
Highlights of the risankizumab record
Risankizumab (Skyrizi) · label of June 15, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSKYRIZI is an interleukin-23 antagonist indicated for the treatment of: moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. ( 1.1 ) active psoriatic arthritis in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older. ( 1.2 ) moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adults. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $22,774.36 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the ustekinumab record
Ustekinumab (Stelara) · label of September 8, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSTELARA is a human interleukin-12 and -23 antagonist indicated for the treatment of: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy. ( 1.1 ) Active psoriatic arthritis in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 25, 2009
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $29,874.45 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Risankizumab label of June 15, 2026, Ustekinumab label of September 8, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do risankizumab and ustekinumab differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, risankizumab is an interleukin-23 antagonist and ustekinumab an interleukin-12 antagonist.
How each works, in its label's words: Risankizumab, “Risankizumab-rzaa is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to the p19 subunit of human IL-23 cytokine and inhibits its interaction with the IL-23 receptor.”; Ustekinumab, “Ustekinumab is a human IgG1қ monoclonal antibody that binds with specificity to the p40 protein subunit used by both the IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Risankizumab, “Elimination The estimated systemic clearance (inter-subject CV%) was 0.31 L/day (24%) and 0.30 L/day (34%) and terminal …”; Ustekinumab, “Elimination The mean (±SD) half-life ranged from 14.9 ± 4.6 to 45.6 ± 80.2 days across all trials in subjects with …”
| Risankizumab | Ustekinumab | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Psoriasis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis |
| Pharmacologic class | Interleukin-23 Antagonist | Interleukin-12 Antagonist, Interleukin-23 Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | Risankizumab-rzaa is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to the p19 subunit of human IL-23 cytokine and inhibits its interaction with the IL-23 receptor. | Ustekinumab is a human IgG1қ monoclonal antibody that binds with specificity to the p40 protein subunit used by both the IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines. |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination The estimated systemic clearance (inter-subject CV%) was 0.31 L/day (24%) and 0.30 L/day (34%) and terminal elimination half-life was approximately 28 days and 21 days in subjects with plaque psoriasis and … | Elimination The mean (±SD) half-life ranged from 14.9 ± 4.6 to 45.6 ± 80.2 days across all trials in subjects with plaque psoriasis following subcutaneous administration. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | September 25, 2009 |
| First generic approved | none | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $22,774.36 per mL (Skyrizi 150 mg/mL pen) | $29,874.45 per mL (Stelara 45 mg/0.5 mL syringe) |
| 12-month price change | +6% | +5% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 81,290 | 102,257 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to risankizumab
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions