PfizerFlex Patient Support Program for IXIFI® – Ankylosing Spondylitis

About ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can cause some of the small bones in the spine (vertebrae) to fuse. Signs and symptoms typically begin in late adolescence or early adulthood between the ages of 15 and 30 years old. An estimated 300,000 Canadians have ankylosing spondylitis.

What is IXIFI used for?

IXIFI is a medicine that is used in people with ankylosing spondylitis. Your doctor has chosen to treat your ankylosing spondylitis with IXIFI because you have had an inadequate response to other treatments or because you cannot tolerate other treatments.

How does IXIFI work?

Research has shown that in ankylosing spondylitis, the body overproduces a substance known as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). The active ingredient in IXIFI is called infliximab. Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody, a type of protein that recognizes and binds to other unique proteins. Infliximab binds to and neutralizes TNF alpha. Infliximab is made from mouse and human proteins.

IXIFI is a medicine that affects your immune system. IXIFI can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections.

Usual dose

IXIFI will be given to you by a healthcare professional. The medicine will be given to you through a needle placed in a vein in your arm. This is called an infusion. The infusion will take about 2 hours.

During the infusion you will be monitored for side effects. You must stay for 1 to 2 hours after the infusion so that you can continue to be watched for any reactions to the medicine.

The recommended dose of IXIFI is 5 mg/kg.

Infusion 1

Infusion 2

Infusion 3

Every 6 to 8 weeks thereafter for all following infusion

Please refer to your patient leaflet for complete dosing instructions.

Welcome