| Multiple Sclerosis
Avonex vs Tysabri
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for multiple sclerosis.Deep comparison between: Avonex vs Tysabri 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 signalsTysabri has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Avonex based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Tysabri but not Avonex, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Avonex
Tysabri
At A Glance
IM injection
Once weekly
Interferon beta
IV infusion
Every 4 weeks
alpha4-integrin antagonist
Indications
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Crohn Disease
Dosing
Multiple Sclerosis 30 micrograms once weekly by IM injection; may titrate starting at 7.5 micrograms in week 1, increasing by 7.5 micrograms weekly for 3 weeks to reach the recommended 30 microgram dose.
Multiple Sclerosis 300 mg IV infusion over one hour every four weeks.
Crohn Disease 300 mg IV infusion over one hour every four weeks; discontinue if no therapeutic benefit by 12 weeks of induction therapy or if concomitant corticosteroids cannot be tapered within six months of starting therapy.
Contraindications
- History of hypersensitivity to natural or recombinant interferon beta or any other component of the formulation
- History of hypersensitivity to albumin (human) [lyophilized vial formulation only]
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), current or historical
- Previous hypersensitivity reaction to TYSABRI, ranging from urticaria to anaphylaxis
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5% more than placebo) Flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, myalgia, asthenia
Serious Depression, hepatic injury, anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions, injection site necrosis, congestive heart failure, decreased peripheral blood counts, thrombotic microangiopathy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, seizures, autoimmune disorders
Postmarketing Hemolytic anemia, menorrhagia and metrorrhagia, pulmonary arterial hypertension, rash including vesicular rash, injection site abscess or cellulitis
Most common (>=10%) Headache, fatigue (MS and CD); arthralgia, urinary tract infection, lower respiratory tract infection, gastroenteritis, vaginitis, depression, pain in extremity, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, rash (MS); upper respiratory tract infection, nausea (CD).
Serious Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), herpes infections, hepatotoxicity, hypersensitivity and antibody formation, immunosuppression and infections, hematological abnormalities.
Postmarketing Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia (including immune thrombocytopenic purpura).
Pharmacology
Interferon beta-1a is a recombinant type I interferon that binds to specific receptors on human cell surfaces, initiating a cascade of intracellular events leading to expression of interferon-induced gene products; its mechanism of action in multiple sclerosis is unknown.
Alpha4-integrin antagonist; recombinant humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that binds to the alpha4-subunit of alpha4beta1 and alpha4beta7 integrins on leukocytes, blocking their adhesion to VCAM-1 and MAdCAM-1 and inhibiting transmigration into inflamed parenchymal tissue in multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Avonex
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (9/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Tysabri
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Avonex
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (4/8)
Tysabri
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Avonex
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (1/3)
Tysabri
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
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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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.