| Juvenile polyarthritis
Actemra vs Xeljanz
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for juvenile polyarthritis.Deep comparison between: Actemra vs Xeljanz 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 signalsXeljanz has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Actemra based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Xeljanz but not Actemra, including UnitedHealthcare
Sign up to reveal the full AI analysis
Category
Actemra
Xeljanz
At A Glance
IV infusion or SC injection
Every 4 weeks (IV) or Every week to Every other week (SC)
IL-6 receptor antagonist
Oral
Twice daily
JAK inhibitor
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
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Ulcerative Colitis
- 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, Arthritis, Psoriatic, Ankylosing spondylitis Adults: 5 mg twice daily (XELJANZ) or 11 mg once daily (XELJANZ XR).
Ulcerative Colitis Induction: 10 mg twice daily or 22 mg once daily for at least 8 weeks (up to 16 weeks); maintenance: 5 mg twice daily or 11 mg once daily.
Juvenile polyarthritis Weight-based dosing in pediatric patients >=2 years weighing >=10 kg; patients >=40 kg: 5 mg twice daily.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab
—
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 (>=2%) Upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, headache, hypertension.
Serious Serious infections (pneumonia, cellulitis, herpes zoster, urinary tract infection), malignancy, thrombosis, major adverse cardiovascular events, gastrointestinal perforations.
Postmarketing Drug hypersensitivity (angioedema, urticaria), acne.
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.
Tofacitinib is a JAK inhibitor that blocks JAK1/JAK2, JAK1/JAK3, and JAK2/JAK2 signaling, preventing phosphorylation and activation of STATs to modulate immune cell function and hematopoiesis.
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)
Xeljanz
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (12/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Actemra
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (4/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Xeljanz
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (8/8) · Step Therapy (8/8) · Qty limit (8/8)
Humana
Actemra
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Xeljanz
- 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 Actemra.
No savings programs available for Xeljanz.
Compare Other Drugs
Let us handle your prior authsJust enter your patient's info and we'll:
- Verify eligibility with the payer.
- Pull the right PA forms directly from the payer.
- Submit, track & send live updates to your dashboard.
Free to start · HIPAA compliant
Next Steps for Your Patient
ActemraView full Actemra profile
XeljanzView full Xeljanz profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.