How to access Tremfya from the UAE — the named-patient import pathway, 2026
By Reserve Meds · Clinical & regulatory team · Last reviewed 2026-04-23
A UAE patient with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis, or ulcerative colitis may receive a prescription for Tremfya (guselkumab) from their treating dermatologist, rheumatologist, or gastroenterologist. Tremfya is FDA-approved in the United States and manufactured by Janssen (a Johnson & Johnson company). It was the first IL-23p19-selective monoclonal antibody approved for plaque psoriasis and has since extended into psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis. Local access in the UAE varies by indication and by emirate, and specific presentations can be out of stock at particular hospital pharmacies. When that happens, a named-patient import route through the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) remains legitimate for the patient whose physician has already prescribed the drug.
This guide explains the pathway, what documentation your physician needs, typical costs and timing, and where Reserve Meds fits in.
The clinical situation
Tremfya is an injectable anti-IL-23p19 humanised IgG1 monoclonal antibody. For plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, dosing is 100 mg subcutaneously at week 0, week 4, and every 8 weeks thereafter. For ulcerative colitis, an intravenous induction regimen (200 mg at weeks 0, 4, and 8) is followed by subcutaneous maintenance (100 mg every 8 weeks or 200 mg every 4 weeks, per labeling). The IL-23 class carries a cleaner safety profile than the JAK class and does not have an FDA boxed warning. Pre-treatment screening per FDA labeling includes tuberculosis evaluation, hepatitis B and C serology, and review of vaccination status; live vaccines are not recommended during therapy. Your physician will document severity, prior therapy history, and the induction and maintenance plan before starting Tremfya.
Is Tremfya legally importable into the UAE?
Yes — through the MoHAP named-patient / personal-use import framework, coordinated with the treating facility's pharmacy. The UAE has a mature pathway for specialty biologics approved by reference authorities but not stocked locally for the specific presentation or indication.
The MoHAP named-patient route allows a UAE-licensed physician to request import of a medicine when: (a) the medicine is approved by a recognised reference authority such as the US FDA or EMA, (b) no clinically equivalent locally available alternative is suitable for the patient's indication and history, (c) the treating physician takes clinical responsibility for use, and (d) chain of custody is documented from the US source to the dispensing pharmacy. Dubai Health Authority and Department of Health Abu Dhabi issue complementary approvals where the dispensing facility sits inside their jurisdiction.
How the pathway works, step by step
- Consultation with your treating physician. The prescribing decision is clinical. Your physician documents the indication, severity scoring, prior therapy history, and rationale for Tremfya.
- Baseline screening. TB, viral hepatitis, and vaccination review are completed and documented per FDA labeling.
- MoHAP named-patient application. Your physician or hospital pharmacy files the application with clinical rationale, patient reference, presentation (SC pen/syringe or IV induction), quantity, and chain-of-custody plan.
- US-side sourcing. Reserve Meds coordinates with our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner to secure product from Janssen's authorised distribution under DSCSA chain-of-custody.
- Cold-chain shipment. Tremfya is a biologic requiring refrigerated transport (2 to 8 degrees Celsius) with temperature-excursion monitoring end to end.
- Arrival and first administration. The dispensing facility releases product against the physician's prescription and administration proceeds on the planned induction and maintenance schedule.
What documentation your physician needs
Your physician will typically need to provide:
- A clinical rationale letter confirming the indication, severity scoring, prior therapy history, and Tremfya as the indicated treatment
- Verification of their UAE medical licence (MoHAP / DHA / DoH)
- A patient identifier (anonymised reference preferred)
- Documented pre-treatment screening (TB, hepatitis) and vaccination review
- The planned induction and maintenance schedule and the presentation required (100 mg SC; 200 mg IV for UC induction)
- Identification of the administering facility for IV induction where applicable
Reserve Meds provides a physician documentation kit that bundles the templates MoHAP reviewers expect for IL-23 biologic imports, including cold-chain handling documentation.
Typical costs and indicative timing
Reserve Meds gives you a drug-only reference range plus a transparent delivered quote at intake. As an illustrative composite case, the US cash-pay reference range for a Tremfya 100 mg SC psoriasis dose sits in an indicative 2026 band of roughly USD 11,000 to 13,500 per dose, with IV induction for UC running higher per session. International cold-chain logistics, MoHAP documentation handling, and concierge coordination add incremental cost. The delivered quote we issue at intake itemises each line so nothing is hidden.
Indicative timing — not a guarantee — for first dose after cohort intake opens is approximately 7 to 14 days from the moment a complete application is submitted to MoHAP, assuming the documentation package is clean on first pass. Subsequent maintenance doses are scheduled against the physician's cadence.
Reserve Meds is in pre-launch; service availability is limited to our first cohort. All timelines are indicative, not guarantees. If your clinical situation is time-sensitive, flag that when you join the waitlist and we will triage accordingly.
Where Reserve Meds fits in
Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator for cross-border specialty medicine. For Tremfya specifically, we provide:
- Sourcing. Through our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner, operating under DSCSA chain-of-custody from manufacturer to export.
- Documentation. Regulatory package tailored for your physician and for MoHAP / DHA / DoH review.
- Cold-chain logistics. Temperature-controlled, internationally tracked shipment with excursion monitoring.
- Concierge case lead. A named point of contact for your family and your physician across the full case arc.
We are a coordinator — not the prescriber, not the dispensing pharmacy. All clinical decisions remain with your treating physician, and dispensing sits with the licensed UAE pharmacy of record.
FAQ
Is this legal in the UAE?
Yes, when executed through the MoHAP named-patient / personal-use framework with appropriate documentation, clinical rationale, and a licensed dispensing facility.
How does Tremfya differ from Skyrizi and other IL-23 inhibitors?
Tremfya, Skyrizi, Ilumya, and Omvoh all target IL-23p19 but differ in dosing cadence, indication set, and clinical evidence. For example, Tremfya's psoriasis cadence is every 8 weeks versus Skyrizi's every 12 weeks. Your physician selects based on indication, response expectations, and preference.
Is there an at-home device option?
Tremfya is available as a prefilled syringe and a One-Press patient-administered device for SC dosing after training. Your physician decides whether in-clinic or at-home administration is appropriate.
What about vaccines while on Tremfya?
Live vaccines are not recommended during therapy. Your physician will coordinate any needed immunisations around your dosing schedule.
Will private insurance cover this?
Cash-pay is the default posture. Some UAE private insurers reimburse named-patient imports on a case-by-case basis; we supply documentation but do not process insurance claims directly.
Join the waitlist
Reserve Meds is opening to a limited first cohort in 2026. Add your case to the waitlist and our concierge case lead will reach out when we are ready to enter intake for Tremfya coordination in the UAE.
Add me to the Tremfya waitlistThis guide is educational, not medical advice. Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator; we are not the prescriber and not the dispensing pharmacy. All clinical decisions remain with the treating physician.