| Juvenile polyarthritis
Actemra vs Kevzara
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for juvenile polyarthritis.Deep comparison between: Actemra vs Kevzara 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 signalsKevzara has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Actemra based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Kevzara but not Actemra, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Actemra
Kevzara
At A Glance
IV infusion or SC injection
Every 4 weeks (IV) or Every week to Every other week (SC)
IL-6 receptor antagonist
SC injection
Every 2 weeks
IL-6 receptor antagonist
Indications
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Lung disease with systemic sclerosis
- Juvenile polyarthritis
- Systemic onset juvenile chronic arthritis
- Cytokine Release Syndrome
- COVID-19 Virus Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Juvenile polyarthritis
Dosing
Rheumatoid Arthritis IV: 4 mg/kg every 4 weeks, increase to 8 mg/kg every 4 weeks based on response; SC: 162 mg every other week (for <100 kg) or every week (for >=100 kg), increase to every week based on response.
Giant Cell Arteritis IV: 6 mg/kg every 4 weeks with tapering glucocorticoids; SC: 162 mg every week with tapering glucocorticoids (may use every other week based on clinical considerations).
Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease SC: 162 mg every week.
Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis IV: 10 mg/kg every 4 weeks (<30 kg) or 8 mg/kg every 4 weeks (>=30 kg); SC: 162 mg every 3 weeks (<30 kg) or every 2 weeks (>=30 kg).
Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis IV: 12 mg/kg every 2 weeks (<30 kg) or 8 mg/kg every 2 weeks (>=30 kg); SC: 162 mg every 2 weeks (<30 kg) or every week (>=30 kg).
Cytokine Release Syndrome IV: 12 mg/kg (<30 kg) or 8 mg/kg (>=30 kg) as single dose, alone or with corticosteroids; up to 3 additional doses at least 8 hours apart if no improvement.
COVID-19 IV: 12 mg/kg (<30 kg) or 8 mg/kg (>=30 kg) as single 60-minute infusion; one additional dose at least 8 hours later if clinical signs worsen or do not improve.
Rheumatoid Arthritis 200 mg SC injection once every 2 weeks; may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate or other conventional DMARDs.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica 200 mg SC injection once every 2 weeks in combination with a tapering course of corticosteroids; may be used as monotherapy following discontinuation of corticosteroids.
Juvenile polyarthritis 200 mg SC injection once every 2 weeks for patients weighing 63 kg or greater; may be used as monotherapy or in combination with conventional DMARDs.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab
- Known hypersensitivity to sarilumab or any of the inactive ingredients
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Upper respiratory tract infections, nasopharyngitis, headache, hypertension, increased ALT, injection site reactions (SC only).
Serious Serious infections (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis, herpes zoster, gastroenteritis, diverticulitis, sepsis, bacterial arthritis), gastrointestinal perforations, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis.
Postmarketing Fatal anaphylaxis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), pancreatitis, drug-induced liver injury, hepatitis, hepatic failure, jaundice, hypofibrinogenemia.
Most common (>=3%) Neutropenia, increased ALT, injection site erythema, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections
Serious Serious infections (pneumonia, cellulitis), gastrointestinal perforation, hypersensitivity reactions, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, lipid abnormalities
Pharmacology
Tocilizumab is a humanized IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody that binds to soluble and membrane-bound IL-6 receptors, inhibiting IL-6-mediated signaling involved in inflammatory and immune processes.
IL-6 receptor antagonist; sarilumab is a human recombinant IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds to both soluble and membrane-bound IL-6 receptors (sIL-6R and mIL-6R), inhibiting IL-6-mediated pro-inflammatory signaling involved in T-cell activation, acute phase protein synthesis, and joint inflammation.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Actemra
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Kevzara
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Actemra
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (4/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Kevzara
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (4/8) · Qty limit (2/8)
Humana
Actemra
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Kevzara
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Actemra.
Cost estimate not availableAssistance Fund: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.