Skyrizi (Risankizumab) Shortage: What Providers and Prescribers Need to Know in 2026

Risankizumab (Skyrizi) is not on the FDA Drug Shortage list as of 2026. AbbVie continues to manufacture and distribute all formulations without supply disruptions. However, as prescribers know well, the absence of an FDA shortage does not mean patients are getting their medication on time.

The access barriers for Skyrizi are almost entirely administrative — driven by prior authorization (PA) requirements, step therapy mandates, specialty-pharmacy-only distribution, and ongoing PA renewal cycles. This guide helps prescribers understand the landscape and strategies to help patients access risankizumab more efficiently.

Current Availability Status of Risankizumab (2026)

All four FDA-approved formulations of Skyrizi are commercially available as of 2026:

150 mg/mL prefilled pen and syringe — for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (SC, self-administered)

600 mg/10 mL IV vial — for Crohn's disease and UC induction (administered in clinic or infusion center)

180 mg and 360 mg on-body injector cartridges — for Crohn's disease and UC maintenance (SC, self-administered every 8 weeks)

No supply disruptions, manufacturing issues, or distribution problems have been reported. The access challenges your patients face are systemic — not pharmaceutical.

Understanding the Access Barriers Your Patients Face

Prior Authorization: The Primary Gatekeeper

Skyrizi requires prior authorization from virtually every commercial insurer, Medicare Part D plan, and most Medicaid programs. PA submissions require documentation of the patient's diagnosis, disease severity (typically PASI score ≥12 or BSA ≥10% for psoriasis; endoscopic confirmation for IBD indications), and prior treatment history.

Approval timelines range from 7 to 45 days. Initial denial rates are high across specialty biologics, making appeals a regular part of biologic prescribing workflows. Prescriber offices that have a dedicated PA team or use tools like CoverMyMeds see significantly faster approvals.

Step Therapy Requirements and Exemptions

Most commercial payers require documented failure of a TNF inhibitor (most commonly adalimumab or etanercept) before authorizing Skyrizi. For IBD indications, some plans also require failure of an IL-12/23 inhibitor (ustekinumab) or integrin antagonist (vedolizumab).

Strategies to overcome step therapy barriers include:

Documenting prior biologic use at other institutions or in another health system

Invoking step therapy exception laws (most states have enacted protections for medically necessary biologics)

Submitting a peer-to-peer review request with the medical director at the insurer

Citing clinical evidence for Skyrizi superiority over specific step therapy drugs in the patient's condition

PA Renewal: A Recurring Challenge

Most insurers require PA renewal for Skyrizi every 6 to 12 months, even for patients who are doing well on the medication. Lapsed PAs are a leading cause of unexpected treatment interruptions. Consider building PA renewal into your patient management workflow — set reminders 60 days before each PA expiration date.

Specialty Pharmacy Coordination

Skyrizi is dispensed exclusively through specialty pharmacies. Your patients cannot fill their prescription at a retail pharmacy. Common specialty pharmacy networks include Accredo (Express Scripts), CVS Specialty, Walgreens Specialty, AllianceRx, and Optum Specialty. The insurer's preferred specialty pharmacy may differ by plan, and out-of-network specialty fills are often not covered at all.

For providers who need help finding which specialty pharmacies can fill a patient's Skyrizi prescription in a given area, medfinder for providers offers a service that calls pharmacies on behalf of you or your patients to identify available fill sources.

AbbVie Support Programs: Clinical and Financial Resources

AbbVie's Skyrizi Complete program offers several resources for prescribers and patients:

Field Reimbursement Managers (FRMs): AbbVie FRMs can meet with your office to review PA submission best practices, appeal strategies, and payer-specific requirements.

Skyrizi Complete Savings Card: For commercially insured patients ≤63 years old, this card can reduce out-of-pocket cost to as little as $0 per dose.

Bridge program: Provides free Skyrizi for up to 2 years for commercially insured patients with a PA denial on file and confirmed appeal. Eligibility: ≤63 years old, commercial insurance only.

myAbbVie Assist: Free medication for uninsured or underinsured patients who meet income criteria. Call 1-800-222-6885.

AbbVie's 2026 FDA Application for Subcutaneous Induction in Crohn's Disease

In April 2026, AbbVie submitted an FDA regulatory application seeking approval for risankizumab subcutaneous induction in moderately to severely active Crohn's disease, based on data from the Phase 3 AFFIRM study. If approved, Crohn's disease patients would have the option of SC induction rather than IV infusion — potentially simplifying the treatment pathway and improving accessibility for patients who cannot easily access infusion centers.

For more clinical guidance on helping patients navigate Skyrizi access, see our Provider's Guide to Helping Patients Find Skyrizi.