About AMGEVITA

AMGEVITA contains adalimumab – a biologic medicine that acts on the immune system to reduce inflammation and is used to treat inflammatory conditions.
AMGEVITA is a biosimilar medicine, meaning it is highly similar to the original adalimumab medicine.
AMGEVITA has been assessed to be as safe and effective as the original adalimumab medicine at treating inflammatory conditions.

To read more detail about biosimilars and adalimumab, visit the Pharmac website and read the Consumer Medicine Information.

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AMGEVITA contains adalimumab, a biologic medicine that works with the immune system to help fight inflammatory conditions.
To read more about adalimumab and how it works, you can review the Consumer Medicine Information.

Your doctor has prescribed AMGEVITA to manage one of the following conditions:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (polyarticular JIA)
• Enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA)
• Psoriasis (Ps)
• Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
• Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)
• Uveitis

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

Review Consumer Medicine Information

AMGEVITA is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous) from a SureClick pre-filled pen or pre-filled syringe. Your dose and how often you inject AMGEVITA will depend on what you are using AMGEVITA for and how old you are. Your doctor will tell you the reason you are prescribed AMGEVITA, your dose and how often you need to administer AMGEVITA.

AMGEVITA may be injected by you, or by a family member, guardian, or a carer, but only after proper training in the injection technique.

To watch videos to help you with injection, visit the How to inject page.
OR you can view the patient information booklet, which contains detailed written instructions for how to use the SureClick prefilled pen.

AMGEVITA should be stored in a refrigerator at 2-8°C and should not be frozen. Keep it in the carton protected from light in a place where children cannot reach it. When necessary, (if you are travelling for example), AMGEVITA may be stored at room temperature (below 25°C) protected from light for a maximum of 14 days. After 14 days it must be discarded even if it has been returned to the refrigerator.

Support materials

When travelling with AMGEVITA, make sure that your pen or syringe is stored at room temperature (below 25°C) for no more than 14 days. Even if your pen or syringe is returned to the refrigerator during the 14 days, it must be used within 14 days of when you first removed it from the refrigerator.

If you are travelling for more than 14 days and require more than one pen or syringe, then these must be refrigerated (between 2°C-8°C) and kept in their pack to protect it from the light. Writing down the day that you remove your AMGEVITA from the refrigerator will help remind you of when it needs to be discarded.

Keep your medication in its original packaging, and make sure your name is on the pharmacy label.

You can view full storage instructions in the Consumer Medicine Information.

Download the AMGEVITA Reminder Leaflet to take with you, and keep track of important details during your travels.

Adult Reminder Leaflet Child Reminder Leaflet

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade recommends that you contact the nearest New Zealand Embassy, Consulate General, or High Commission of the country you are visiting to ensure your medication is permitted there.

Check if your medication is available in the country you travel to in case you lose it while traveling.

You can find more information on travelling with medicine here.

Request a letter from your healthcare provider detailing that you are taking AMGEVITA, what you are taking it for, and the contact details of your healthcare team.

Download the AMGEVITA Alert Card and fill it out with both yours and your healthcare provider’s contact information. This card should be folded and carried in your pocketbook or bag throughout your travels, in case you need to seek medical care.

Also, ask your healthcare provider to document why you are traveling with sharps, gels, and ice packs (if taking extra medication beyond a 14-day stay).

If you have any questions or issues with your medication while traveling, be sure to contact your healthcare provider.

Get Alert Card

You may experience some of the following side effects that require urgent medical attention:

• Signs of an allergic reaction – chest tightness, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips and tongue, rash, itching or hives
• Signs of heart failure – shortness of breath on exertion or when lying down, or swelling of the feet
• Signs of infection – fever, lack of energy, skin sores, problems with your teeth and gums, or burning when you pass urine
• Nervous system problems – numbness or tingling, vision changes or weakness in your arm or leg
• Signs of a blood disorder – persistent fever, bruising, easy bleeding, or paleness
• Signs of tuberculosis – persistent cough, weight loss, listlessness (lack of energy), or fever
• Signs of soft tissue infection – a bump or open sore that doesn't heal

Please make sure you read the Consumer Medicine Information for full detail, and ask your doctor if you have any questions about side effects.
If you would like to report a side effect, please contact our medical support team.

Your doctor will have discussed the potential risks and benefits of AMGEVITA therapy with you. It is very important your doctor has a good understanding of your previous medical conditions, as well as your current health. Before you start treatment you should tell your doctor if you:

• Have any other medical conditions
• Take any other medicines (including over-the-counter supplements)
• Are pregnant, or are planning a pregnancy
• Have an infection, or symptoms of an infection such as fever
• Have or have had a blood disorder, heart condition, cancer, kidney or liver problems, and any other previous health issues
• Have a nervous system disease, e.g. multiple sclerosis
• Have any vaccinations or surgery planned
• Have ever had tuberculosis or been in close contact with someone who has tuberculosis
• Have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or are a carrier of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or have active hepatitis B

Please make sure you read the Consumer Medicine Information for full details, and ask your doctor if you have any questions prior to using AMGEVITA.

There are two types of devices available to inject AMGEVITA - a SureClick pre-filled pen or a pre-filled syringe.

The SureClick pre-filled pen has a button that you press to administer AMGEVITA, allowing for easy, one-handed injection, while the pre-filled syringe requires you to push the plunger to inject AMGEVITA.

AMGEVITA is available in the following strengths and pack sizes. When you visit your pharmacist, you will be given one of these based on your doctor’s prescription:

• One 20 mg/0.4 mL pre-filled syringe.
• Two 40 mg/0.8 mL pre-filled syringes.
• Two 40 mg/0.8 mL pre-filled SureClick pens.

The needle cover of the pre-filled pen contains natural rubber (latex). The needle cover of the pre-filled syringe does NOT contain latex. Therefore, you should tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergy to rubber or latex before using AMGEVITA. You can also review the Consumer Medicine Information for a full list of allergies or medical conditions to discuss with your doctor before using AMGEVITA.

Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist may discuss which device will suit you best based on your treatment plan.

Check the SureClick pre-filled pen Instructions for use or the pre-filled syringe Instructions for use provided with your medication pack for full instructions on how to inject AMGEVITA with your device.

If you require additional help to administer your dose you can contact our support nurse via email or telephone. The details are available on our support page.

If you are prescribed AMGEVITA, consult your healthcare provider and read either the SureClick pre-filled pen Instructions for use or the pre-filled syringe Instructions for use, depending on which device you are using. The injection should not be given without proper training.

If you would rather have someone else (such as a family member, carer or guardian) give the injection, that's okay, but be sure they are trained to do so.

You can also share the instructions from the How to inject page, the patient booklet or the Instructions for Use included with your pack, which contain detailed instructions for how to inject.

If you require additional help to administer your dose you can contact our support nurse via email or telephone. The details are available on our support page.

Contact support

If you have an issue with your SureClick pre-filled pen or pre-filled syringe, or believe you may have a defective device, you can contact Amgen medical information to discuss the issue and arrange for a replacement pack, if required.

Using a new treatment or new device can feel overwhelming at times, so we have provided access to our dedicated support nurse who can assist with any questions and help make your experience using AMGEVITA seamless and comfortable.

Contact support

Due to a change in Pharmac funding, as of 1 March 2022 all patients on adalimumab treatment (whether new to treatment or already on treatment) now have funded access to AMGEVITA. This means your medication is fully funded under Special Authority for most indications - normal pharmacy prescription charges apply.

Your doctor or pharmacist will assist you with the switch in medication and can provide any support needed.

AMGEVITA is a biosimilar medicine, meaning it is highly similar to the original adalimumab medicine. It has been assessed to be as safe and as effective as the original adalimumab medicine at treating inflammatory conditions.

Our team at Amgen is dedicated to making the transition simple and smooth for all patients and their healthcare providers. You can access support via this website, or by talking to your GP, specialist, pharmacist or nurse, as they have been supplied with support information as well.

• Injection videos
• Patient booklet with injection instructions
• Patient reminder leaflet (adult)
• Patient reminder leaflet (child)
• Access to nurse support
• Additional AMGEVITA resources

In the event you are prescribed AMGEVITA and experience difficulty on treatment, you may be able to return to Humira.

Make sure to speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are concerned about your treatment, and they will assist in finding the best course of treatment.

You can also connect with Amgen support, as we are always here to help. Visit the Connect with Support page for contact information based on your type of inquiry.

You may be provided with a sharps bin when starting AMGEVITA treatment, as well as an Instructions for Use leaflet inside the pack, which contains all instructions for disposal.

You should put your SureClick pre-filled pens or pre-filled syringes directly into your sharps container immediately after each use; you should not dispose of the used pen or syringe in your household bin/waste. Make sure to review the Instructions for Use leaflet in your medication pack for full instructions on disposal.

Once your sharps bin is full, talk to your pharmacist about how you can safely dispose of your sharps bin and request a new sharps bin.

If you would like to order a replacement sharps bin from Amgen for safe disposal of your used pens or syringes, please fill out the form below to have one sent directly to you.

Order sharps bin