| Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
Plegridy vs Betaseron
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for multiple sclerosis, secondary progressive.Deep comparison between: Plegridy vs Betaseron 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 signalsBetaseron has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Plegridy based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Betaseron but not Plegridy, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Plegridy
Betaseron
At A Glance
SC or IM injection
Every 14 days
Interferon beta-1a (pegylated)
SC injection
Every other day
Type I interferon
Indications
- Clinically isolated syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
- Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
- Clinically isolated syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive
Dosing
Clinically isolated syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Multiple Sclerosis, Secondary Progressive Titrate from 63 mcg SC or IM on day 1, 94 mcg on day 15, to a full maintenance dose of 125 mcg every 14 days starting day 29.
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.
Contraindications
- History of hypersensitivity to natural or recombinant interferon beta or peginterferon, or any other component of PLEGRIDY
- History of hypersensitivity to natural or recombinant interferon beta, Albumin (Human), or any other component of the formulation
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=10%) Injection site erythema, influenza-like illness, pyrexia, headache, myalgia, chills, injection site pain, asthenia, injection site pruritus, arthralgia
Serious Hepatic injury, depression and suicide, anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions, injection site reactions including necrosis, congestive heart failure, decreased peripheral blood counts, thrombotic microangiopathy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, autoimmune disorders, seizures
Postmarketing Anaphylactic reactions, hepatic injury (including noninfectious hepatitis), pulmonary arterial hypertension
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
Pharmacology
Pegylated recombinant interferon beta-1a; the mechanism by which PLEGRIDY exerts its clinical effects in multiple sclerosis is unknown.
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.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Plegridy
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
Betaseron
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Plegridy
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (5/8)
Betaseron
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (4/8)
Humana
Plegridy
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Betaseron
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (1/3)
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 availableAccessia Health: Multiple Sclerosis - Private Insurance: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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PlegridyView full Plegridy profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.