Limitations of Use:
KRYSTEXXA is not recommended for the treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
Precautions Prior to Treatment
It is recommended that before starting KRYSTEXXA patients discontinue oral urate-lowering medications and not institute therapy with oral urate-lowering agents while patients are on KRYSTEXXA therapy.
Monitoring Therapy: The risk of infusion reactions, including anaphylaxis, is higher in patients who have lost therapeutic response. Monitor serum uric acid levels prior to each infusion and discontinue treatment if levels increase to above 6 mg/dL, particularly when 2 consecutive levels above 6 mg/dL are observed [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1, 5.2)].
Infusion Reaction Precautions
KRYSTEXXA should be administered in a healthcare setting by healthcare providers prepared to manage infusion reactions, including anaphylaxis. Observe patients for an appropriate period of time after administration [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1, 5.2)].
Patients should receive pre-infusion medications (e.g., antihistamines, corticosteroids), to minimize the risk of infusion reactions, including anaphylaxis.
If an infusion reaction occurs during the administration of KRYSTEXXA, the infusion may be slowed, or stopped and restarted at a slower rate, at the discretion of the physician. Since infusion reactions can occur after completion of infusion, observation of patients for approximately an hour post-infusion should be considered [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2), Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
Administration Precautions
Do not administer KRYSTEXXA as an intravenous push or bolus. KRYSTEXXA should only be administered by intravenous infusion. An infusion pump may be used for the Ready-to-Use vial. Gravity feed, syringe-type pump, or infusion pump may be used for the To-Be-Diluted vial [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].
Co-administration with Methotrexate
A 52-week, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted in adult subjects with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy to evaluate administration of KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks co-administered with weekly administration of oral methotrexate 15 mg, compared to KRYSTEXXA alone. In this trial, subjects who were able to tolerate two weeks on methotrexate 15 mg were then randomized to receive four additional weeks on either methotrexate 15 mg or matching placebo prior to initiating KRYSTEXXA therapy. A total of 152 subjects were randomized, and of these, 145 subjects completed the 4-week methotrexate run-in period and received KRYSTEXXA (96 subjects received KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate and 49 received KRYSTEXXA plus placebo) during the treatment period. All subjects received pre-treatment with an oral antihistamine, intravenous corticosteroid and acetaminophen. These subjects were between the ages of 24 and 83 years (average 55 years); 135 subjects were male and 17 and were female; 105 subjects were White/Caucasian, 22 were Black/African American, 14 were Asian, 5 were Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander and 5 identified as Other; 28 were Hispanic or Latino. Common co-morbid conditions among the enrolled subjects included hypertension (63%), osteoarthritis (25%), hyperlipidemia (24%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (22%), obesity (20%), type 2 diabetes (18%) and depression (16%). Subjects with an eGFR < 40 mL/min/1.73 m2 were excluded from this trial.
The most commonly reported adverse reaction during the methotrexate pre-treatment periods was gout flare. The most commonly reported adverse reactions that occurred in ≥ 5% in either treatment group during the KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate or KRYSTEXXA alone period are provided in Table 1.
Table 1. Adverse Reactions Occurring in 5% or More of Subjects in Either the KRYSTEXXA Co-administered with Methotrexate or KRYSTEXXA Alone Treatment Period| Adverse Reaction | KRYSTEXXA with Methotrexate (N = 96) n (%) | KRYSTEXXA Alone (N = 49) n (%) |
|---|
| Gout flare | 64 (67%) | 35 (71%) |
| Arthralgia | 13 (14%) | 5 (10%) |
| COVID-19 | 9 (9%) | 3 (6%) |
| Nausea | 5 (5%) | 6 (12%) |
| Fatigue | 5 (5%) | 2 (4%) |
| Infusion reaction | 4 (4%) Included one case of anaphylaxis. | 15 (31%) |
| Pain in extremity | 1 (1%) | 3 (6%) |
| Hypertension | 1 (1%) | 3 (6%) |
| Vomiting | 0 | 4 (8%) |
KRYSTEXXA ALONE
The data described below reflect exposure to KRYSTEXXA in subjects with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy in two replicate randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 24-week clinical trials: 85 subjects were treated with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks; 84 subjects were treated with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 4 weeks; and 43 subjects were treated with placebo. These subjects were between the ages of 23 and 89 years (average 55 years); 173 subjects were male and 39 were female; and 143 patients were White/Caucasian, 27 were Black/African American, 24 were Hispanic/Latino and 18 were all other ethnicities. Common co-morbid conditions among the enrolled subjects included hypertension (72%), dyslipidemia (49%), chronic kidney disease (28%), diabetes (24%), coronary artery disease (18%), arrhythmia (16%), and cardiac failure/left ventricular dysfunction (12%).
During the pre-marketing placebo-controlled clinical trials, the most commonly reported adverse reactions that occurred in greater than or equal to 5% of subjects treated with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks are provided in Table 2.
Table 2. Adverse Reactions Occurring in 5% or More of Subjects Treated with KRYSTEXXA Compared to Placebo| Adverse Reaction | KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks (N = 85) nIf the same subject in a given group had more than one occurrence in the same preferred term event category, the subject was counted only once. (%) | Placebo (N = 43) n (%) |
|---|
| Gout flare | 65 (77%) | 35 (81%) |
| Infusion reaction | 22 (26%) | 2 (5%) |
| Nausea | 10 (12%) | 1 (2%) |
| Contusion Most did not occur on the day of infusion and could be related to other factors (e.g., concomitant medications relevant to contusion or ecchymosis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus). or Ecchymosis | 9 (11%) | 2 (5%) |
| Nasopharyngitis | 6 (7%) | 1 (2%) |
| Constipation | 5 (6%) | 2 (5%) |
| Chest Pain | 5 (6%) | 1 (2%) |
| Anaphylaxis | 4 (5%) | 0 (0%) |
| Vomiting | 4 (5%) | 1 (2%) |
Risk Summary
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of KRYSTEXXA in pregnant women.
Based on animal reproduction studies, no structural abnormalities were observed when pegloticase was administered by subcutaneous injection to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis at doses up to 50 and 75 times, respectively, the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD). Decreases in mean fetal and pup body weights were observed at approximately 50 and 75 times the MRHD, respectively [see Data].
All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss or other adverse outcomes. In the US general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinical recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively.
Data
Animal Data
In 2 separate embryo-fetal developmental studies, pregnant rats and rabbits received pegloticase during the period of organogenesis at doses up to approximately 50 and 75 times the MRHD, respectively (on a mg/m2 basis at maternal doses up to 40 and 30 mg/kg twice weekly, in rats and rabbits, respectively). No evidence of structural abnormalities was observed in rats or rabbits. However, decreases in mean fetal and pup body weights were observed at approximately 50 and 75 times the MRHD in rats and rabbits, respectively (on a mg/m2 basis at maternal doses up to 40 and 30 mg/kg every other day, in rats and rabbits, respectively). No effects on mean fetal body weights were observed at approximately 10 and 25 times the MRHD in rats and rabbits, respectively (on a mg/m2 basis at maternal doses up to 10 mg/kg twice weekly in both species).
Risk Summary
It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Therefore, KRYSTEXXA should not be used when breastfeeding unless the clear benefit to the mother can overcome the unknown risk to the newborn/infant.
Special Populations
Pediatric Patients
The pharmacokinetics of pegloticase has not been studied in children and adolescents.
Patients with Renal or Hepatic Impairment
No formal studies were conducted to examine the effects of either renal or hepatic impairment on pegloticase pharmacokinetics. eGFR was not a significant covariate on pegloticase pharmacokinetics.
Drug Interactions
Co-administration of methotrexate with KRYSTEXXA decreased anti-pegloticase antibody incidence rate and titers compared to KRYSTEXXA alone, therefore increased pegloticase exposure levels. In patients with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy receiving KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks co-administered with weekly administration of oral methotrexate 15 mg, higher steady-state peak and trough concentrations (2.65 µg/mL and 1.13 µg/mL, respectively) of pegloticase were observed compared to when KRYSTEXXA is given alone (steady-state peak and trough concentrations at 2.13 µg/mL and 0.59 µg/mL, respectively).
Co-administration with Methotrexate
A 52-week, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted in adult subjects with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy, to evaluate administration of KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks co-administered with weekly administration of methotrexate 15 mg, compared to KRYSTEXXA alone: Trial 1 (NCT03994731). In this trial, patients were naïve to KRYSTEXXA therapy. Subjects who were able to tolerate two weeks on oral methotrexate 15 mg were then randomized to receive four additional weeks on either methotrexate 15 mg or matching placebo prior to initiating KRYSTEXXA therapy in a 2:1 ratio. Subjects were pre-treated with a standardized infusion reaction prophylaxis regimen consisting of an oral fexofenadine, acetaminophen and intravenous methylprednisolone prior to each KRYSTEXXA infusion. Methotrexate or placebo was continued weekly throughout the KRYSTEXXA treatment period with daily oral folic acid in order to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of methotrexate to attenuate development of anti-drug antibodies.
Entry criteria for subjects to be eligible for this trial were: baseline serum uric acid ≥ 7 mg/dL and inability to maintain serum uric acid < 6 mg/dL on other urate-lowering therapy, intolerable side effects associated with current urate-lowering therapy, and/or presence of clinically evident tophaceous deposits.
The primary endpoint was the proportion of Month 6 responders, where a responder was defined as achieving and maintaining serum uric acid less than 6 mg/dL for at least 80% of the time during Month 6. The proportion of Month 12 responders was a key secondary endpoint. A significantly greater proportion of patients receiving KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate compared to KRYSTEXXA alone achieved both the primary and secondary endpoints (see Table 3).
Table 3. Serum Uric Acid < 6 mg/dL for at Least 80% of the Time During Month 6 and During Month 12 in Subjects Administered KRYSTEXXA Co-administered with Methotrexate | Treatment Group |
|---|
| Trial 1 | KRYSTEXXA with Methotrexate (N = 100) | KRYSTEXXA Alone (N = 52) |
|---|
| Number, % of Patients Who Met Response Criteria During Month 6 | 71 (71%) | 20 (39%) |
| Difference Difference and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) based on a weighted average of the difference within each randomization stratum (tophi presence, no tophi presence) using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (CMH) weights. (95% Confidence Interval) | 32% (16%, 48%) | |
| P-Value | < 0.0001 | |
| Number, % of Patients Who Met Response Criteria During Month 12 | 60 (60%) | 16 (31%) |
| Difference (95% Confidence Interval) | 29% (13%, 45%) | |
| P-Value | 0.0003 | |
The effect of KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate and KRYSTEXXA alone on tophi was assessed using standardized digital photography, image analysis and Central Readers blinded to treatment assignment. Approximately 53.3% (81/152) of randomized subjects had tophi at baseline (Week-6) that were confirmed by digital photography. Of those, 54% (28/52) in the KRYSTEXXA co-administered with methotrexate group and 31% (9/29) in the KRYSTEXXA alone group achieved a complete response at Month 12 (defined as 100% resolution of at least one target tophus, no new tophi appear and no single tophus showing progression). The difference between the two treatment groups was statistically significant (22.8%, 95% CI: 1.2%, 44.4%).
KRYSTEXXA ALONE
The efficacy of KRYSTEXXA was studied in adult patients with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy in two replicate, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of six months duration: Trial 2 and Trial 3. Patients were randomized to receive KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks or placebo in a 2:2:1 ratio.
Studies were stratified for the presence of tophi. Seventy-one percent (71%) of subjects had baseline tophi. All subjects were prophylaxed with an oral antihistamine, intravenous corticosteroid and acetaminophen. Subjects also received prophylaxis for gout flares with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or colchicine, or both, beginning at least one week before KRYSTEXXA treatment unless medically contraindicated or not tolerated. Subjects who completed the randomized clinical trials were eligible to enroll in a 2-year open label extension study.
Entry criteria for subjects to be eligible for the trials were: baseline serum uric acid of at least 8 mg/dL; had symptomatic gout with at least 3 gout flares in the previous 18 months or at least 1 gout tophus or gouty arthritis; and had a self-reported medical contraindication to allopurinol or medical history of failure to normalize uric acid (to less than 6 mg/dL) with at least 3 months of allopurinol treatment at the maximum medically appropriate dose.
The mean age of study subjects was 55 years (23-89); 82% were male, mean body mass index (BMI) was 33 kg/m2, mean duration of gout was 15 years, and mean baseline serum uric acid was 10 mg/dL.
To assess the efficacy of KRYSTEXXA in lowering uric acid, the primary endpoint in both trials was the proportion of subjects who achieved plasma uric acid (PUA) less than 6 mg/dL for at least 80% of the time during Month 3 and Month 6. As shown in Table 4, a greater proportion of subjects treated with KRYSTEXXA every 2 weeks achieved urate-lowering to below 6 mg/dL than subjects receiving placebo. Although the 4-week regimen also demonstrated efficacy for the primary endpoint, this regimen was associated with increased frequency of anaphylaxis and infusion reactions and less efficacy with respect to tophi.
Table 4. Plasma Uric Acid < 6 mg/dL for at Least 80% of the Time During Months 3 and 6| Treatment Group | N | Number (%) of Subjects Who Met Response Criteria | 95% Confidence Interval 95% confidence interval for differences in responder rate between pegloticase group vs. placebo. | P-Value P-value using Fisher's exact test to compare pegloticase group vs. placebo. |
|---|
| Trial 2 | | | | |
| KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks | 43 | 20 (47%) | [32%, 61%] | < 0.001 |
| KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 4 weeks | 41 | 8 (20%) | [7%, 32%] | 0.044 |
| Placebo | 20 | 0 (0%) | | |
| Trial 3 | | | | |
| KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks | 42 | 16 (38%) | [23%, 53%] | < 0.001 |
| KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 4 weeks | 43 | 21 (49%) | [34%, 64%] | < 0.001 |
| Placebo | 23 | 0 (0%) | | |
Note: Based on post-hoc analyses of the clinical trial data, if KRYSTEXXA had been stopped when a patient's uric acid level rose to greater than 6 mg/dL on a single occasion, the incidence of infusion reactions would have been reduced by approximately 67%, but the success rates for the primary efficacy endpoint would have been reduced by approximately 20%. If KRYSTEXXA had been stopped after 2 consecutive uric acid levels greater than 6 mg/dL, the incidence of infusion reactions would have been half, and there would have been little change in the efficacy outcome.
The effect of treatment on tophi was a secondary efficacy endpoint and was assessed using standardized digital photography, image analysis, and a Central Reader blinded to treatment assignment. Approximately 70% of subjects had tophi at baseline. A pooled analysis of data from Trial 2 and Trial 3 (NCT00325195) was performed as pre-specified in the protocols. At Month 6, the percentage of subjects who achieved a complete response (defined as 100% resolution of at least one target tophus, no new tophi appear and no single tophus showing progression) was 45%, 26%, and 8%, with KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 2 weeks, KRYSTEXXA 8 mg every 4 weeks, and placebo, respectively. The difference between KRYSTEXXA and placebo was statistically significant for the every 2-week dosing regimen, but not for the every 4-week dosing regimen.
How Supplied
KRYSTEXXA (pegloticase) injection is supplied as a sterile, clear and colorless solution containing 8 mg of pegloticase as follows for intravenous infusion:
- One Ready-to-Use 8 mg/50 mL (0.16 mg/mL) single-dose vial (NDC 75987-058-01)
- One To-be-Diluted 8 mg/mL single-dose vial (NDC 75987-080-10)
Anaphylaxis and Infusion Reactions
- Anaphylaxis and infusion reactions can occur at any infusion while on therapy. Counsel patients on the importance of adhering to any prescribed medications, to help prevent or lessen the severity of these reactions.
- Educate patients on the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, including wheezing, peri-oral or lingual edema, hemodynamic instability, and rash or urticaria, nausea or vomiting.
- Educate patients on the most common signs and symptoms of an infusion reaction, including urticaria (skin rash), erythema (redness of the skin), dyspnea (difficulty breathing), flushing, chest discomfort, chest pain, and rash.
- Advise patients to seek medical care immediately if they experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction during or at any time after the infusion of KRYSTEXXA [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1, 5.2), Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
- Advise patients to discontinue any oral urate-lowering agents before starting on KRYSTEXXA and not to take any oral urate-lowering agents while on KRYSTEXXA.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency
Inform patients not to take KRYSTEXXA if they have a condition known as G6PD deficiency. Explain to patients that G6PD deficiency is more frequently found in individuals of African, Mediterranean, or Southern Asian ancestry and that they may be tested to determine if they have G6PD deficiency, unless already known [see Contraindications (4), Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Gout Flares
Explain to patients that gout flares may initially increase when starting treatment with KRYSTEXXA, and that medications to help reduce flares may need to be taken regularly for the first few months after KRYSTEXXA is started [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4), Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. Advise patients that they should not stop KRYSTEXXA therapy if they have a flare.
AMGEN
KRYSTEXXA® (pegloticase)
Manufactured by:
Horizon Therapeutics Ireland DAC
Dublin, Ireland
US License Number 2022
Patent: https://pat.amgen.com/krystexxa/
© 2025, 2026 Amgen Inc. All rights reserved.
1xxxxx – v7