Pronunciation: CIM-zee-uh
Generic name: certolizumab [ SER-toe-LIZ-oo-mab ]
Dosage form: injection
Drug class: TNF alfa inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 16, 2024.

What is Cimzia?

Cimzia injection is used to treat Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in certain patients. Cimzia works to reduce inflammation and improve symptoms by blocking a protein called TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha).  Cimzia (certolizumab) belongs to the drug class TNF alfa inhibitors.

In autoimmune conditions, like Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis inflammation can be caused or worsened when TNF is released in the body. By Cimzia blocking TNFα there is less inflammation so symptoms of the condition improve.

Cimzia first received FDA approval on April 22, 2008, for moderate to severe active Crohn’s disease in adults who have an inadequate response to conventional therapy to reduce signs and symptoms of the disease and to maintain clinical response. Since then, it has also been approved for specific adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Cimzia side effects

Common Cimzia side effects may include rash, pain or burning when you urinate, and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, and a sore throat.

Serious Cimzia side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Cimzia: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with Cimzia. Tell your doctor if you have signs of infection, such as fever, chills, cough, sweating, muscle pain, open sores or skin wounds, unusual tiredness, feeling short of breath, painful urination, diarrhea, or weight loss.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms of lymphoma:

• chest pain, cough, feeling short of breath;
• swelling in your neck, underarm, or groin (this swelling may come and go);
• fever, night sweats, itching, weight loss, feeling tired;
• feeling full after eating only a small amount; or
• pain in your upper stomach that may spread to your back or shoulder.

Stop using Cimzia and call your doctor at once if you have Cimzia side effect symptoms of:

• shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;
• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
• a new growth on your skin (may be red or purple), or any change in the size or color of a mole, freckle, or bump on your skin;
• nerve problems - vision problems, dizziness, numbness or tingly feeling, muscle weakness in your arms or legs;
• liver problems - loss of appetite, right-sided stomach pain, tiredness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• new or worsening symptoms of lupus - joint pain, and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Related/similar drugs

Entyvio, Otezla, Stelara, Taltz, Remicade, Simponi, prednisone

Warnings

Cimzia affects your immune system. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur.

Your risk of infection may be higher if you have diabetes, HIV, a weak immune system, hepatitis B, chronic infections, if you use certain medications, or if you live in or travel to certain areas.

Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, diarrhea, night sweats, flu symptoms, or skin sores.

Using Cimzia may also increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, including a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma that can be fatal.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with Cimzia.

Do NOT use this medicine if you have had a serious hypersensitivity reaction to certolizumab pegol or to any of the inactive ingredients. 

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Cimzia if you are allergic to certolizumab. You may not be able to use Cimzia if you have symptoms of an infection such as fever, chills, cough, skin sores, shortness of breath, weight loss, diarrhea, or painful urination.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, or anyone in your household has tuberculosis. Also tell your doctor if you have recently traveled. Tuberculosis and some fungal infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.

Cimzia may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. However, anyone with an inflammatory autoimmune disorder may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a chronic infection;
• hepatitis B (or if you are a carrier of the virus);
• lymphoma or other types of cancer;
• a blood cell disorder;
• congestive heart failure;
• a seizure;
• an allergy to latex;
• numbness or tingling, or a nervous system disorder such as multiple sclerosis; or
• if you are scheduled to receive any vaccines, or have recently been vaccinated with BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin).

It is not known whether Cimzia will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of Cimzia on the baby.

It may not be safe to breast-feed a baby while you are using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.

Cimzia is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How is Cimzia given?

Cimzia is injected under the skin. A healthcare provider may teach you how to use the medication by yourself properly.

Cimzia is usually given every 2 to 4 weeks. You may need to use more than 1 injection to get a full dose. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Do not use Cimzia if you don't understand all instructions for proper use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.

Prepare your injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Cimzia can increase your risk of bleeding or infection by changing the way your immune system works. You will need frequent medical tests.

Store Cimzia in its original carton in the refrigerator. Protect from light and do not freeze.

Take the syringe out of the refrigerator and let it reach room temperature before injecting your dose.

Unopened prefilled syringes may also be stored at room temperature for up to 7 days, away from heat and light. Throw away any prefilled syringe not used within 7 days. Do not put it back in the refrigerator.

Each prefilled syringe is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.

Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

If you've ever had hepatitis B, using Cimzia can cause this virus to become active or get worse. You may need frequent liver function tests while using this medicine and for several months after you stop.

Before you start treatment with Cimzia, your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have tuberculosis or other infections.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Cimzia Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Initial Cimzia dose: 400 mg subcutaneously (given as two subcutaneous injections of 200 mg) at weeks 0, 2, and 4, followed by 200 mg subcutaneously every other week
Maintenance Cimzia dose: 400 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks can be considered
Use: For the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Usual Adult Cimzia Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis

Initial dose: 400 mg subcutaneously (given as two subcutaneous injections of 200 mg) at weeks 0, 2, and 4, followed by 200 mg subcutaneously every other week
Use: For the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

Usual Adult Dose for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Initial dose: 400 mg subcutaneously (given as two subcutaneous injections of 200 mg) at weeks 0, 2, and 4, followed by 200 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks or 400 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks
Use: For the treatment of adults with active ankylosing spondylitis

Usual Adult Cimzia Dose for Crohn's Disease - Maintenance:

Initial dose: 400 mg subcutaneously (given as two subcutaneous injections of 200 mg) at weeks 0, 2, and 4
Maintenance dose: 400 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks
Use: For reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy

Usual Adult Dose for Plaque Psoriasis

Initial dose: 400 mg subcutaneously (given as 2 subcutaneous injections or 200 mg) every other week
For certain patients with body weight <=90 kg: 400 mg (given as 2 subcutaneous injections or 200 mg) at weeks 0, 2, and 4 followed by 200 mg every other week can be considered
Use: For the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy

Usual Adult Dose for Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Initial dose: 400 mg subcutaneously (given as two subcutaneous injections of 200 mg) at weeks 0, 2, and 4, followed by 200 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks or 400 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks
Use: For the treatment of adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation

General Cimzia Dosing Information

• Rotate injection sites.
• Do not inject into skin that is tender, bruised, red, or hard.
• When a 400 mg dose is needed (given as 2 subcutaneous injections of 200 mg), injections should occur at separate sites in the thigh or abdomen.
• This drug can be given as monotherapy or concomitantly with non-biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
• The use of this drug in combination with biological DMARDs or another tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker therapy is not recommended.

Cimzia is available as 200 mg lyophilized powder in a single-dose vial and 200 mg/mL solution in a single-dose prefilled syringe

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of Cimzia.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while receiving Cimzia?

Avoid injecting Cimzia into scars or stretch marks, or into skin that is red, bruised, swollen, hard, or tender.

Ask your doctor before receiving any vaccine while you are being treated with Cimzia.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.

What other drugs will affect Cimzia?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• abatacept;
• adalimumab;
• anakinra;
• etanercept;
• golimumab;
• infliximab;
• natalizumab; or
• rituximab.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with certolizumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Cimzia Package Insert

This is not all the information you need to know about Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the Cimzia Package Insert here, and discuss this medicine and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

Ingredients

Cimzia lyophilized powder
Active ingredient: certolizumab pegol
Inactive ingredients: lactic acid, polysorbate, sucrose.
Cimzia lyophilized powder is mixed with sterile Water for Injection. 

Cimzia prefilled syringe
Active ingredient: certolizumab pegol
Inactive ingredients: sodium acetate, sodium chloride, Water for Injection. 

Storage

• Store in the refrigerator between 36ºF to 46ºF (2ºC to 8ºC).
• Do not freeze
• Store the injection in the carton it came in. Protect from light. 
• Do not use the injection if the medicine is expired. Check the expiration date on the prefilled syringe or carton.
• The Cimzia prefilled syringe is made of glass. Do not drop or crush the syringe. 

Company

Manufactured by: UCB, Inc. 1950 Lake Park Drive Smyrna, GA 30080.

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