Why Is Pyzchiva So Hard to Find? [Explained for 2026]

If you or someone you care for has been prescribed Pyzchiva (ustekinumab-ttwe), you may have already discovered that picking it up at the pharmacy is not as straightforward as filling a regular prescription. Pyzchiva is a specialty biologic — and like many biologics, the path from prescription pad to medicine cabinet can involve multiple steps, phone calls, and sometimes frustration.

Here is what is actually happening — and what you can do to make filling your Pyzchiva prescription easier.

What Is Pyzchiva?

Pyzchiva (pronounced "piz-chi-va") is a biosimilar to Stelara (ustekinumab), one of the best-selling biologic drugs in the world. It was FDA-approved in June 2024 and launched in the United States in February 2025. It is developed by Samsung Bioepis and commercialized in the US by Sandoz.

Pyzchiva is approved for the same four conditions as Stelara: moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis, moderately-to-severely active Crohn's disease, and moderately-to-severely active ulcerative colitis. The FDA has also provisionally determined Pyzchiva to be interchangeable with Stelara — meaning pharmacists may substitute it for Stelara without needing a new prescription from your doctor, depending on state law.

Why Is It Hard to Find Pyzchiva at a Regular Pharmacy?

Pyzchiva is a specialty biologic medication. Unlike common medications such as metformin or lisinopril, which are stocked at virtually every pharmacy, specialty biologics like Pyzchiva are typically not carried on retail pharmacy shelves. Here is why:

• Specialty pharmacy distribution: Most biologics are dispensed through specialty pharmacies rather than retail locations. These pharmacies have special handling, storage, and patient support capabilities — but they may not be on every corner.
• Insurance prior authorization: Your insurance plan almost certainly requires a prior authorization (PA) before it will cover Pyzchiva. This can add days or weeks to the process.
• Formulary positioning: Different insurance plans have different formularies, and not every plan has placed Pyzchiva in a favorable tier. Some plans may still prefer Stelara or a competing biosimilar, adding additional steps before you can access Pyzchiva specifically.
• Cold-chain storage: Pyzchiva must be refrigerated between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C). Not all retail pharmacies maintain the specialized cold storage or logistics needed for biologic medications.
• New to market: Pyzchiva only launched in February 2025. As a relatively new biosimilar, it is still working its way into pharmacy inventories and insurance formularies nationwide.

Is Pyzchiva in a Shortage?

No — Pyzchiva is not in an FDA-declared drug shortage. Pyzchiva launched alongside several other ustekinumab biosimilars in early 2025 and is commercially available. However, "commercially available" does not always mean "easy to get." Supply chain complexity, specialty pharmacy routing, and insurance hurdles can all make it feel like the drug is hard to access even when there is no formal shortage.

If you are struggling to locate Pyzchiva at pharmacies near you, the issue is almost always one of access and routing — not a manufacturing shortage.

Could My Insurance Be Steering Me Away from Pyzchiva?

Possibly. In the competitive ustekinumab biosimilar market, insurance plans and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) negotiate contracts with individual manufacturers. Some plans have signed exclusive deals — for example, Optum/UnitedHealth launched Amgen's Wezlana as the first ustekinumab biosimilar in January 2025. Other plans may prefer Selarsdi (by Teva/Alvotech) or another competitor.

If your plan covers a different ustekinumab biosimilar more favorably, you may face a step therapy requirement — meaning you need to try the preferred biosimilar first before your plan covers Pyzchiva. Work with your prescribing physician and Sandoz's patient support line (1-855-726-3698) if you believe you are being inappropriately restricted from accessing Pyzchiva.

What Can I Do If I Can't Find Pyzchiva Near Me?

Here are concrete steps to take when you cannot locate Pyzchiva at a pharmacy:

1. Ask for a specialty pharmacy referral. Your prescriber's office often has relationships with specialty pharmacies that stock Pyzchiva. Ask them to route your prescription accordingly.
2. Contact Sandoz directly. Sandoz provides patient support services including co-pay assistance and help navigating insurance. Call 1-855-726-3698 or visit pyzchiva.com.
3. Use medfinder. medfinder calls pharmacies near you to find out which ones have your medication in stock. Instead of calling dozens of pharmacies yourself, medfinder does the legwork and texts you the results.
4. Talk to your prescriber about alternatives. Since all ustekinumab biosimilars are clinically equivalent, your doctor may be able to write for whichever biosimilar is most accessible through your insurance and local pharmacies. Read more in our guide to Pyzchiva alternatives.

Does Pyzchiva Cost Less Than Stelara?

Yes — that is the whole point of a biosimilar. Stelara's list price runs approximately $25,497 per 8-week dose of the 90 mg form. Sandoz launched Pyzchiva at a list price approximately 80% below Stelara. However, what patients actually pay depends heavily on their insurance coverage. Commercially insured patients may be eligible for Sandoz's co-pay assistance program, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs to as little as $0 per treatment. Without insurance, GoodRx prices for a single Pyzchiva 45 mg syringe start around $2,047.

For more detail on saving money, see our full guide: How to Save Money on Pyzchiva in 2026.

The Bottom Line

Pyzchiva is not in a drug shortage. But it is a specialty biologic that flows through a different distribution channel than most medications — and navigating that system requires some effort. If you are running into roadblocks, start with your prescriber's office, contact Sandoz patient support, and let medfinder help you locate which pharmacies near you have it ready to dispense.