| Arthritis, Psoriatic
Purified Cortrophin Gel vs Stelara
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for arthritis, psoriatic.Deep comparison between: Purified Cortrophin Gel vs Stelara with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsStelara has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Purified Cortrophin Gel based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Stelara but not Purified Cortrophin Gel, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Purified Cortrophin Gel
Stelara
At A Glance
SC/IM injection
Corticotropin (ACTH)
SC injection
Every 8-12 weeks
IL-12/23 antagonist
Indications
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Primary gout
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
- Polymyositis
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
- Psoriasis
- Dermatitis, Atopic
- Serum Sickness
- Allergic Conjunctivitis
- Keratitis
- Iritis
- Iridocyclitis
- Uveitis
- Optic Neuritis
- Chorioretinitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Psoriasis vulgaris
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Crohn Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
Dosing
Arthritis, Psoriatic, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Primary gout, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Polymyositis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Psoriasis, Dermatitis, Atopic, Serum Sickness, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Keratitis, Iritis, Iridocyclitis, Uveitis, Optic Neuritis, Chorioretinitis, Sarcoidosis, Nephrotic Syndrome Dose individualized based on disease severity, plasma and urine corticosteroid levels, and patient response; administer SC or IM; verify adrenal responsiveness prior to treatment (up to 80 units as a single injection); chronic doses above 40 units daily associated with uncontrollable adverse effects.
Multiple Sclerosis 80-120 units daily SC or IM for 2-3 weeks for acute exacerbations.
Psoriasis vulgaris Adults <=100 kg: 45 mg SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks; adults >100 kg: 90 mg SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks; pediatric patients >=6 years: weight-based dosing (0.75 mg/kg for <60 kg, 45 mg for 60-100 kg, 90 mg for >100 kg) SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks.
Arthritis, Psoriatic Adults: 45 mg SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks (90 mg for >100 kg with co-existent moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis); pediatric patients >=6 years: weight-based dosing (0.75 mg/kg for <60 kg, 45 mg for >=60 kg, 90 mg for >100 kg with co-existent plaque psoriasis) SC at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks.
Crohn Disease, Ulcerative Colitis Adults: single IV induction dose (260 mg for <=55 kg, 390 mg for >55-85 kg, 520 mg for >85 kg), followed by 90 mg SC at week 8, then every 8 weeks.
Contraindications
- Intravenous administration
- Scleroderma
- Osteoporosis
- Systemic fungal infections
- Ocular herpes simplex
- Recent surgery
- History of or presence of a peptic ulcer
- Congestive heart failure
- Hypertension
- Sensitivity to proteins derived from porcine sources
- Primary adrenocortical insufficiency
- Adrenocortical hyperfunction
- Clinically significant hypersensitivity to ustekinumab or any excipient of STELARA
Adverse Reactions
Fluid and Electrolyte Sodium retention, hypokalemic alkalosis, fluid retention, calcium loss, potassium loss
Musculoskeletal Muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, steroid myopathy, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, pathologic fracture of long bones
Gastrointestinal Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, abdominal distention, ulcerative esophagitis, pancreatitis
Dermatologic Injection site reactions, impaired wound healing, increased sweating, thin fragile skin, suppression of skin test reactions, petechiae and ecchymoses, acne, hyperpigmentation, facial erythema
Cardiovascular Hypertension, congestive heart failure, necrotizing angiitis
Neurological Convulsions, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema, headache, vertigo
Endocrine Menstrual irregularities, Cushingoid state, suppression of growth in children, secondary adrenocortical and pituitary insufficiency, decreased carbohydrate tolerance, manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, hirsutism
Ophthalmic Posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma with possible damage to optic nerve, exophthalmos
Metabolic Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism
Allergic Dizziness, nausea and vomiting, skin reactions, anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock, urticaria, respiratory compromise, edema)
Miscellaneous Weight gain, abscess, development of antibodies and loss of stimulatory effect
Most common (>=1%) Nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, fatigue, back pain, dizziness, pharyngolaryngeal pain, pruritus, injection site erythema, myalgia, depression
Serious Infections, malignancies, serious hypersensitivity reactions, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), noninfectious pneumonia
Postmarketing Hypersensitivity reactions (anaphylaxis, angioedema, dyspnea, rash, urticaria), lower respiratory tract infection, PRES, interstitial pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, hypersensitivity vasculitis
Pharmacology
Purified Cortrophin Gel is an anterior pituitary hormone (corticotropin/ACTH) that stimulates the functioning adrenal cortex to produce and secrete adrenocortical hormones; it is formulated as a porcine-derived purified ACTH in a sterile gelatin solution for prolonged activity.
Ustekinumab is a human IgG1k monoclonal antibody that binds the p40 protein subunit shared by IL-12 and IL-23, blocking their interaction with the IL-12Rb1 receptor chain and thereby suppressing downstream inflammatory signaling involved in natural killer cell activation and CD4+ T-cell differentiation and activation.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Purified Cortrophin Gel
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Stelara
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (12/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Purified Cortrophin Gel
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Stelara
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (4/8) · Qty limit (4/8)
Humana
Purified Cortrophin Gel
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Stelara
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Purified Cortrophin Gel.
$5/fillfill
Stelara withMe Savings ProgramCommercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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Purified Cortrophin GelView full Purified Cortrophin Gel profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.