Immgolis Intri (Golimumab-Sldi) for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Immgolis Intri (golimumab-sldi) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis.

How Immgolis Intri Works and How It’s Taken

Immgolis Intri is a type of medication called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker. It works by binding to TNF-alpha, a protein involved in inflammation. In rheumatoid arthritis, this helps reduce inflammation in the joints and may ease swelling, pain, and stiffness.

Immgolis Intri is a biosimilar to Simponi Aria. This means it is made from living cells and is designed to work like the original medicine. The FDA requires biosimilars to have no meaningful differences in safety or how well they work.

Immgolis Intri is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional. The infusion takes 30 minutes.

Typical Dosing for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The recommended dose of Immgolis Intri for adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis is 2 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

Immgolis Intri is given as an IV infusion over 30 minutes. It is given at week 0, week 4, and then every eight weeks after that.

Immgolis Intri should be given with methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis.

This information is based on the prescribing information. Always follow your healthcare provider’s guidance.

Immgolis Intri Side Effects

In clinical studies of golimumab used with methotrexate to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, the most common side effects occurred in about 3 percent to 13 percent of people. These include:

Upper respiratory tract infection (such as a runny nose, sore throat, or hoarseness)
Viral infections (such as flu or cold sores)
Increase in liver enzyme levels
Bronchitis
High blood pressure
Rash
Low neutrophil (a type of white blood cell) count

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Immgolis Intri can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Serious infections — Severe infections can occur, including tuberculosis (TB) and invasive fungal infections, because Immgolis Intri can lower immune system activity.
Cancer — This can include lymphoma and certain skin cancers.
Congestive heart failure — New or worsening heart failure is a risk.
Demyelinating disorders — Nerve and brain conditions can occur, including multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Hepatitis B virus reactivation — The virus can become active again in people who carry hepatitis B.
Lupuslike syndrome — An immune reaction can cause symptoms similar to lupus.
Hematologic cytopenia — Serious blood problems, such as low blood cell counts, are a risk.
Hypersensitivity reactions — Serious allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis, which can cause trouble breathing, swelling, or hives.
Interstitial lung disease — Inflammation and scarring in the lungs can cause cough or shortness of breath.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

What To Know Before Taking Immgolis Intri

Before starting Immgolis Intri, your doctor will test or check for:

Active TB
Latent (hidden) TB infection
Hepatitis B infection

Your doctor will review your vaccination history and, if possible, make sure you are up to date on age-appropriate vaccines. Do not receive live vaccines while taking Immgolis Intri.

Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to golimumab-sldi or any ingredients in Immgolis Intri.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you take:

Abatacept (Orencia) or anakinra (Kineret)
Other TNF blocker medicines, such as adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), or infliximab (Remicade)
Rituximab (Rituxan) or tocilizumab (Actemra)

Tell your doctor if you:

Think you have an infection
Are being treated for an infection
Have symptoms of an infection, such as fever, cough, chills, weight loss, or feeling very tired
Get infections often or have infections that keep coming back
Have diabetes, HIV, or a weakened immune system
Have TB or have been in close contact with someone who has TB
Live, have lived, or have traveled to areas where certain fungal infections are common
Have or have had hepatitis B
Have or have had any type of cancer
Have heart failure
Have or have had a nervous system disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
Have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Immgolis Intri, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. If you used Immgolis Intri during pregnancy, live vaccines are not recommended for your baby for six months after your last Immgolis Intri dose.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Immgolis Intri for rheumatoid arthritis?

In a study of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, people were already taking methotrexate. Some people received golimumab with methotrexate. Others received placebo (an inactive treatment) with methotrexate.

At week 14, 59 percent of people who received golimumab with methotrexate had an ACR 20 response. This means their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms improved by at least 20 percent using a standard study measure. This compared with 25 percent of people who received placebo with methotrexate.

At week 24, 63 percent of people who received golimumab with methotrexate had an ACR 20 response. This compared with 32 percent of people who received placebo with methotrexate.

The golimumab with methotrexate group also had less joint damage progression at week 24. The change in total vdH-S score was 0.03 with golimumab and methotrexate, compared with 1.1 with placebo and methotrexate. A vdH-S score is a measure doctors use in studies to look at joint damage on X-rays.

At week 24, 71 percent of people in the golimumab with methotrexate group had no progression of structural joint damage. This compared with 57 percent of people in the placebo with methotrexate group.

How long does Immgolis Intri take to work for rheumatoid arthritis?

In the main rheumatoid arthritis study, results were measured at week 14. At that time, 59 percent of people who received golimumab with methotrexate had an ACR 20 response. This means their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms improved by at least 20 percent using a standard study measure.

This compared with 25 percent of people who received placebo with methotrexate. The result does not say exactly how soon each person may start to feel improvement.

Should I take Immgolis Intri for rheumatoid arthritis if I have an infection?

Immgolis Intri should not be started if you have an active infection, including an important localized infection (such as a skin infection), unless your doctor tells you to. Immgolis Intri can lower your immune system’s ability to fight infections.

Serious infections, including TB, fungal infections, and hepatitis B reactivation, can happen. If a serious infection develops, Immgolis Intri treatment should be stopped.