| Nephrotic Syndrome
Acthar vs Rayos
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for nephrotic syndrome.Deep comparison between: Acthar vs Rayos 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 signalsRayos has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Acthar based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Rayos but not Acthar, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Acthar
Rayos
At A Glance
IM or SC injection
Corticotropin analog
Oral
Daily
Corticosteroid
Indications
- Infantile Spasm
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
- Dermatomyositis
- Polymyositis
- Erythema Multiforme
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
- Serum Sickness
- Keratitis
- Iritis
- Iridocyclitis
- Uveitis, Posterior
- Choroiditis
- Optic Neuritis
- Chorioretinitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Dermatitis, Atopic
- Allergic rhinitis (disorder)
- Serum Sickness
- Dermatitis Herpetiformis
- Contact Dermatitis
- Exfoliative dermatitis
- Mycosis Fungoides
- Pemphigus
- Erythema Multiforme
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
- Hypercalcemia
- thyroiditis; nonsuppurative
- Adrenal gland hypofunction
- Crohn Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
- Pure Red-Cell Aplasia
- Acute leukemia
- Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Cerebral Edema
- Ophthalmia, Sympathetic
- Uveitis
- Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease
- Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary
- Aspiration pneumonitis
- Asthma
- Tuberculosis
- Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
- Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia
- Idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonitis
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Pneumonia, Lipid
- Sarcoidosis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Primary gout
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Dermatomyositis
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Polychondritis, Relapsing
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sjogren's Syndrome
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
- Vasculitis
- Trichinellosis
- Tuberculosis, Meningeal
Dosing
Infantile Spasm 150 U/m2/day IM divided into 75 U/m2 twice daily for 2 weeks, then taper over 2 weeks; Acthar Gel vial only -- do not use the pre-filled SelfJect injector.
Multiple Sclerosis 80-120 units IM or SC daily for 2-3 weeks for acute exacerbations; taper as needed.
Arthritis, Psoriatic, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Erythema Multiforme, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Serum Sickness, Keratitis, Iritis, Iridocyclitis, Uveitis, Posterior, Choroiditis, Optic Neuritis, Chorioretinitis, Sarcoidosis, Nephrotic Syndrome 40-80 units IM or SC every 24-72 hours; individualize dosing based on disease severity and patient response; taper dose upon discontinuation.
All indications Initial dose 5-60 mg once daily with food; RAYOS releases active substance approximately 4 hours after intake. Titrate to lowest effective maintenance dose; withdraw gradually after long-term or high-dose therapy.
Contraindications
- Intravenous administration
- Use in infants under 2 years of age with suspected congenital infections
- Concomitant live or live-attenuated vaccines during immunosuppressive doses of Acthar Gel
- Scleroderma
- Osteoporosis
- Systemic fungal infections
- Ocular herpes simplex
- Recent surgery
- History of or presence of peptic ulcer
- Congestive heart failure
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Primary adrenocortical insufficiency
- Adrenocortical hyperfunction
- Sensitivity to proteins of porcine origin
- Known hypersensitivity to prednisone or any excipient
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Infections, convulsions, hypertension, irritability, pyrexia (reported in infantile spasm trials at recommended dose)
Serious Cushing's syndrome, adrenal insufficiency upon withdrawal, elevated blood pressure, salt and water retention, hypokalemia, gastrointestinal perforation and bleeding, behavioral and mood disturbances, ophthalmic effects, decreased bone density, negative effects on growth and physical development
Postmarketing Anaphylaxis, necrotizing angitis, pancreatitis, intracranial hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, reversible brain shrinkage, vertebral compression fractures, insomnia, injection site reactions
Most common Fluid retention, altered glucose tolerance, elevated blood pressure, behavioral and mood changes, increased appetite and weight gain
Serious Anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest, circulatory collapse, congestive heart failure, myocardial rupture, pulmonary edema, peptic ulcer with perforation and hemorrhage, osteonecrosis, pathologic fracture, adrenocortical insufficiency, convulsions, increased intracranial pressure
Postmarketing No new safety concerns identified beyond those established for immediate-release prednisone
Pharmacology
Repository corticotropin (ACTH) analog that stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone, and weak androgens; also reported to bind melanocortin receptors, with the trophic effects on the adrenal cortex appearing to be mediated by cyclic AMP.
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties that suppresses inflammatory processes (edema, capillary dilatation, leukocyte migration), modifies immune responses, and produces metabolic effects including promotion of gluconeogenesis, protein catabolism, and altered calcium and electrolyte balance.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Acthar
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Rayos
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (6/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Acthar
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (1/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Rayos
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Acthar
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (2/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Rayos
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Acthar.
No savings programs available for Rayos.
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.