| Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
Betaseron vs Gilenya
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for multiple sclerosis, secondary progressive.Deep comparison between: Betaseron vs Fingolimod 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 signalsFingolimod has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Betaseron based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Fingolimod but not Betaseron, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Betaseron
Fingolimod
At A Glance
SC injection
Every other day
Type I interferon
Oral
Daily
Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator
Indications
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
- Clinically isolated syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
- Clinically isolated syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
Dosing
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Clinically isolated syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive Start at 0.0625 mg (0.25 mL) SC every other day, titrating over six weeks to the recommended dose of 0.25 mg (1 mL) SC every other day.
Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Clinically isolated syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive 0.5 mg orally once daily for adults and pediatric patients >40 kg; 0.25 mg orally once daily for pediatric patients 10 years of age and older weighing <=40 kg; may be taken with or without food; first-dose monitoring for bradycardia required.
Contraindications
- History of hypersensitivity to natural or recombinant interferon beta, Albumin (Human), or any other component of the formulation
- Myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke, TIA, decompensated heart failure requiring hospitalization, or Class III/IV heart failure within the last 6 months
- History or presence of Mobitz Type II second-degree or third-degree AV block or sick sinus syndrome without a functioning pacemaker
- Baseline QTc interval >= 500 msec
- Cardiac arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic treatment with Class Ia or Class III anti-arrhythmic drugs
- Hypersensitivity to fingolimod or any excipient in fingolimod capsules
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5% difference from placebo) Injection site reaction, lymphopenia, flu-like symptoms, myalgia, leukopenia, neutropenia, increased liver enzymes, headache, hypertonia, pain, rash, insomnia, abdominal pain, asthenia
Serious Hepatic injury, anaphylaxis and allergic reactions, depression and suicide, congestive heart failure, injection site necrosis, leukopenia, thrombotic microangiopathy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, seizures, drug-induced lupus erythematosus
Postmarketing Anemia, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, bronchospasm, pulmonary arterial hypertension, fatal capillary leak syndrome
Most common (>=10%) Headache, liver transaminase elevation, diarrhea, cough, influenza, sinusitis, back pain, abdominal pain, pain in extremity
Serious Bradyarrhythmia, AV block, infections, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, macular edema, liver injury, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, fetal risk, malignancies, hypersensitivity reactions
Postmarketing Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, cryptococcal infections, HPV infection, seizures including status epilepticus, melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma
Pharmacology
Interferon beta-1b is a type I interferon that binds to specific receptors on human cell membranes, inducing immunomodulatory effects including enhancement of suppressor T cell activity, reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, down-regulation of antigen presentation, and inhibition of lymphocyte trafficking into the central nervous system; its specific mechanism of action in multiple sclerosis is unknown.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator; fingolimod is metabolized to fingolimod-phosphate, which binds S1P receptors 1, 3, 4, and 5 with high affinity, blocking lymphocyte egress from lymph nodes and reducing peripheral blood lymphocyte counts, potentially reducing lymphocyte migration into the central nervous system.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Betaseron
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Fingolimod
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (11/12) · Step Therapy (2/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Betaseron
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (4/8)
Fingolimod
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (8/8)
Humana
Betaseron
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (1/3)
Fingolimod
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (2/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
Cost estimate not availableAccessia Health: Multiple Sclerosis - Private Insurance: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
Cost estimate not availableAssistance Fund: Multiple Sclerosis: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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BetaseronView full Betaseron profile
FingolimodView full Fingolimod profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.