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Is Omvoh the same as Skyrizi?

Medically reviewed by Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD. Last updated on July 30, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

No. Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz) and Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) are both part of a newer class of biologic drugs called IL-23 inhibitors—meaning they target a key inflammatory protein called interleukin-23. However, these medications are not the same: they are distinct drugs, approved separately and used a bit differently for various autoimmune conditions.

What Conditions Do Omvoh and Skyrizi Treat?

Omvoh and Skyrizi are both FDA approved to treat inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). However, Skyrizi is additionally approved to treat psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis.

How Do You Take Omvoh and Skyrizi

Omvoh begins with supervised intravenous (IV) infusions before transitioning to convenient at-home injections. The initial infusions take approximately 30-90 minutes.

Skyrizi, on the other hand, can be given as a subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. For UC and CD, administration is similar to Omvoh in that you begin with intravenous infusions and move to under-the-skin injections for maintenance dosing.

In general, Omvoh is given more frequently compared to Skyrizi. After the initial doses, Omvoh is administered every 4 weeks and Skyrizi is given every 8-12 weeks.

Which One Works Better: Omvoh and Skyrizi?

Currently, there are no head-to-head studies directly comparing Omvoh and Skyrizi for Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Both have shown strong results in clinical trials, helping many patients achieve remission and reduce inflammation.

Omvoh Clinical Trial Data

Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

Induction and Maintenance Trials (LUCENT-1 and LUCENT-2):

Crohn’s Disease (CD)

Phase III Trials (VIVID-1, VIVID-2):

Skyrizi Clinical Trial Data

Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

Crohn’s Disease (CD)

Omvoh may be chosen when gut symptoms are most severe. Skyrizi might be preferred for patients with skin or joint issues alongside bowel symptoms.

Related questions

Safety and Side Effects of Omvoh and Skyrizi

Both drugs have similar safety profiles, as IL-23 inhibitors, but there are subtle differences.

Omvoh side effects:

Skyrizi side effects:

Doctors monitor patients for these effects, especially infections, as both medications tamp down parts of the immune system.

Choosing Between Omvoh and Skyrizi

Although similar, Omvoh and Skyrizi are not direct substitutes. They are prescribed based on individual symptoms, disease history, and other health factors. The right medication for you depends on what’s most important for your health—gut healing, joint pain, skin involvement, dosing preferences, and medical history. Talk to your doctor about all your symptoms and priorities before starting either medication.

Key Takeaways

References
  1. Omvoh [package insert]. Updated 2025. Eli Lilly and Company. Accessed July 29, 2025 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=472cbe04-263e-433d-9a0f-58c1b50b715a
  2. Sands, B. E., D'Haens, G., Clemow, D. B., Irving, P. M., Johns, J. T., Hunter Gibble, T., Abreu, M. T., Lee, S., Hisamatsu, T., Kobayashi, T., Dubinsky, M. C., Vermeire, S., Siegel, C. A., Peyrin-Biroulet, L., Moses, R. E., Milata, J., Arora, V., Panaccione, R., & Dignass, A. 2024. Two-Year Efficacy and Safety of Mirikizumab Following 104 Weeks of Continuous Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis: Results From the LUCENT-3 Open-Label Extension Study. Inflammatory bowel diseases, 30(12), 2245–2258. https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izae024
  3. Skyrizi [package insert]. Updated 2025. AbbVie Inc. Accessed July 29, 2025 at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=7148c8eb-b39e-e20a-6494-a6df82392858

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What's the dosing schedule for Skyrizi?

After your initial starter doses, you'll receive Skyrizi as subcutaneous (under the skin) maintenance dose every 12 weeks (4 times per year) to treat either plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, or every 8 weeks (6 times per year) to treat either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. You can self-administer these injections at home after proper training from your healthcare provider. Continue reading

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