CERTOLIZUMAB PEGOL

78/100 · Elevated

Manufactured by UCB, Inc.

Certolizumab Pegol Adverse Events Show High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

552,144 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About CERTOLIZUMAB PEGOL

CERTOLIZUMAB PEGOL is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by UCB, Inc.. Based on analysis of 552,144 FDA adverse event reports, CERTOLIZUMAB PEGOL has a safety score of 78 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for CERTOLIZUMAB PEGOL include DRUG INEFFECTIVE, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, PAIN, FATIGUE, OFF LABEL USE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for CERTOLIZUMAB PEGOL.

AI Safety Analysis

Certolizumab Pegol has a safety concern score of 78 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 552,144 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Ucb, Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Drug Ineffective, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Pain. Of classified reports, 64.6% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. High percentage of serious adverse events (64.6%) indicates significant safety concerns.

A wide range of reactions, including infections, gastrointestinal issues, and musculoskeletal problems, are reported. The drug is frequently reported to be ineffective or have decreased therapeutic effect.

Patients taking Certolizumab Pegol should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Interactions and warnings include contraindications with other products and potential for systemic lupus erythematosus and pemphigus. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 78/100

Certolizumab Pegol received a safety concern score of 78/100 (high concern). This is based on a 64.6% serious event ratio across 112,944 classified reports. The score accounts for 552,144 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE26,532 reports
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS19,136 reports
PAIN15,508 reports
FATIGUE13,329 reports
OFF LABEL USE11,067 reports
RASH10,803 reports
ARTHRALGIA10,601 reports
ALOPECIA9,959 reports
JOINT SWELLING9,617 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT9,391 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY9,235 reports
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS8,927 reports
PEMPHIGUS8,538 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE8,535 reports
SWELLING8,532 reports
CONTRAINDICATED PRODUCT ADMINISTERED8,077 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY8,053 reports
GLOSSODYNIA7,903 reports
ARTHROPATHY7,900 reports
SYNOVITIS7,210 reports
HAND DEFORMITY7,042 reports
HEADACHE6,892 reports
PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY6,618 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED6,526 reports
WOUND6,475 reports
INFECTION6,468 reports
NAUSEA6,352 reports
DIARRHOEA6,048 reports
HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED6,033 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION6,022 reports
PRURITUS5,978 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING5,964 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS5,950 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE5,939 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT DECREASED5,877 reports
PERICARDITIS5,567 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE5,535 reports
DISCOMFORT5,528 reports
SINUSITIS5,456 reports
ANTI CYCLIC CITRULLINATED PEPTIDE ANTIBODY POSITIVE5,424 reports
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION5,365 reports
PYREXIA5,208 reports
MALAISE5,081 reports
DYSPNOEA5,023 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS4,878 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY4,877 reports
VOMITING4,756 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED4,716 reports
BLISTER4,683 reports
PNEUMONIA4,631 reports
HELICOBACTER INFECTION4,502 reports
DUODENAL ULCER PERFORATION4,418 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION4,367 reports
IMPAIRED HEALING4,348 reports
STOMATITIS4,249 reports
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME4,227 reports
FOLLICULITIS4,224 reports
URTICARIA4,099 reports
HYPERTENSION4,087 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE4,074 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER4,056 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY4,050 reports
PSORIASIS3,832 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE3,730 reports
MUSCLE INJURY3,699 reports
MOBILITY DECREASED3,682 reports
ILL DEFINED DISORDER3,624 reports
RHEUMATOID FACTOR POSITIVE3,614 reports
DIZZINESS3,513 reports
ASTHENIA3,427 reports
INSOMNIA3,409 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER3,406 reports
CONTUSION3,384 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA3,380 reports
THERAPY INTERRUPTED3,243 reports
TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS3,198 reports
BLOOD CHOLESTEROL INCREASED3,170 reports
CROHN^S DISEASE3,155 reports
FIBROMYALGIA3,055 reports
RHEUMATIC FEVER2,846 reports
SLEEP DISORDER DUE TO GENERAL MEDICAL CONDITION, INSOMNIA TYPE2,818 reports
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS2,799 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE2,769 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN2,751 reports
INJURY2,733 reports
LIVER INJURY2,729 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE2,673 reports
INFLAMMATION2,630 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION2,619 reports
LOSS OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES2,594 reports
DECREASED APPETITE2,569 reports
SLEEP DISORDER2,509 reports
INJECTION SITE PAIN2,374 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE2,327 reports
C REACTIVE PROTEIN INCREASED2,298 reports
OSTEOARTHRITIS2,279 reports
C REACTIVE PROTEIN ABNORMAL2,238 reports
WHEEZING2,220 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED2,205 reports
INAPPROPRIATE SCHEDULE OF PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION2,177 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High number of serious adverse events (72,975 out of 112,944, 64.6%)
  • Diverse reactions including infections, gastrointestinal issues, and musculoskeletal problems
  • Frequent reports of drug ineffectiveness and decreased therapeutic effect

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 83,571, Male: 20,495, Unknown: 180. The most frequently reported age groups are age 44 (2,726 reports), age 43 (2,655 reports), age 40 (1,754 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 112,944 classified reports for CERTOLIZUMAB PEGOL:

  • Serious: 72,975 reports (64.6%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 39,969 reports (35.4%)
Serious 64.6%Non-Serious 35.4%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female83,571 (80.2%)
Male20,495 (19.7%)
Unknown180 (0.2%)

Reports by Age

Age 442,726 reports
Age 432,655 reports
Age 401,754 reports
Age 591,581 reports
Age 601,504 reports
Age 561,200 reports
Age 611,152 reports
Age 581,135 reports
Age 421,122 reports
Age 551,118 reports
Age 541,110 reports
Age 631,088 reports
Age 571,087 reports
Age 521,071 reports
Age 641,071 reports
Age 531,069 reports
Age 621,038 reports
Age 511,028 reports
Age 501,014 reports
Age 48973 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Interactions and warnings include contraindications with other products and potential for systemic lupus erythematosus and pemphigus.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Certolizumab Pegol, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include drug ineffective, rheumatoid arthritis, pain, fatigue, off label use. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Monitor for signs of serious infections and gastrointestinal issues, as these are common and can be severe. Report any unexpected or severe side effects to healthcare providers promptly. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor the safety of certolizumab pegol, with ongoing reviews of adverse event reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Certolizumab Pegol?

The FDA has received approximately 552,144 adverse event reports associated with Certolizumab Pegol. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Certolizumab Pegol?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Certolizumab Pegol include Drug Ineffective, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Pain, Fatigue, Off Label Use. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Drug Ineffective (26,532 reports), Rheumatoid Arthritis (19,136 reports), Pain (15,508 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Certolizumab Pegol.

What percentage of Certolizumab Pegol adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 112,944 classified reports, 72,975 (64.6%) were classified as serious and 39,969 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Certolizumab Pegol (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Certolizumab Pegol break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 83,571, Male: 20,495, Unknown: 180. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Certolizumab Pegol?

The most frequently reported age groups for Certolizumab Pegol adverse events are: age 44: 2,726 reports, age 43: 2,655 reports, age 40: 1,754 reports, age 59: 1,581 reports, age 60: 1,504 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Certolizumab Pegol?

The primary manufacturer associated with Certolizumab Pegol adverse event reports is Ucb, Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Certolizumab Pegol?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Certolizumab Pegol include: Rash, Arthralgia, Alopecia, Joint Swelling, Abdominal Discomfort. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Certolizumab Pegol?

You can report adverse events from Certolizumab Pegol to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Certolizumab Pegol's safety score and what does it mean?

Certolizumab Pegol has a safety concern score of 78 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. High percentage of serious adverse events (64.6%) indicates significant safety concerns.

What are the key safety signals for Certolizumab Pegol?

Key safety signals identified in Certolizumab Pegol's adverse event data include: High number of serious adverse events (72,975 out of 112,944, 64.6%). Diverse reactions including infections, gastrointestinal issues, and musculoskeletal problems. Frequent reports of drug ineffectiveness and decreased therapeutic effect. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Certolizumab Pegol interact with other drugs?

Interactions and warnings include contraindications with other products and potential for systemic lupus erythematosus and pemphigus. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Certolizumab Pegol.

What should patients know before taking Certolizumab Pegol?

Monitor for signs of serious infections and gastrointestinal issues, as these are common and can be severe. Report any unexpected or severe side effects to healthcare providers promptly.

Are Certolizumab Pegol side effects well-documented?

Certolizumab Pegol has 552,144 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. A wide range of reactions, including infections, gastrointestinal issues, and musculoskeletal problems, are reported. The volume of reports for Certolizumab Pegol reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Certolizumab Pegol?

The FDA continues to monitor the safety of certolizumab pegol, with ongoing reviews of adverse event reports. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

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Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.