Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has launched ILUMYA (tildrakizumab) in India, expanding access to a globally used biologic therapy for adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The treatment is already available in 35 countries and now joins Sun Pharma’s dermatology portfolio in the domestic market.
ILUMYA is a targeted biologic that blocks the p19 subunit of IL-23, a key cytokine involved in the inflammatory processes underlying psoriasis. By inhibiting this pathway, the therapy aims to provide long-term control of the chronic skin condition while reducing inflammatory responses.
The company conducted an India-based clinical study involving 115 patients to evaluate the drug’s performance in the local population. Participants received injections on Day 1, Week 4 and Week 16, with follow-up extending to Week 28.
The results showed progressive improvement over time: a majority of patients reached PASI 75 skin clearance milestones by Weeks 12, 16 and 28, and a large proportion achieved PASI 90 by Week 28. Quality-of-life measures, including Dermatology Life Quality Index scores, also showed consistent improvement. The drug was reported to be well tolerated with no immunogenicity concerns during the study period.
Many patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in India continue to face challenges with older systemic treatments and earlier biologics, including limited long-term efficacy, disease flare-ups, and burdensome monitoring requirements. The company positions ILUMYA as an option intended to address these gaps through targeted therapy, durable skin clearance and reduced monitoring needs.
ILUMYA is supplied as a subcutaneous injection, with a recommended schedule of three doses in the first 16 weeks followed by ongoing maintenance dosing. The treatment is priced at ₹84,375 per injection, amounting to five injections per year.
The launch introduces a globally recognised therapy into the Indian market, offering an additional choice for patients whose psoriasis remains insufficiently controlled by conventional treatments.
