| Rheumatoid Arthritis
Actemra vs Kineret
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for rheumatoid arthritis.Deep comparison between: Actemra vs Kineret 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 signalsKineret has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Actemra based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Kineret but not Actemra, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Actemra
Kineret
At A Glance
IV infusion or SC injection
Every 4 weeks (IV) or Every week to Every other week (SC)
IL-6 receptor antagonist
SC injection
Daily
IL-1 receptor antagonist
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
- Chronic Infantile Neurological, Cutaneous, and Articular Syndrome
- INTERLEUKIN 1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST DEFICIENCY
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 100 mg/day SC; administer every other day in severe renal insufficiency or ESRD (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min).
Chronic Infantile Neurological, Cutaneous, and Articular Syndrome Starting dose 1-2 mg/kg/day SC; titrate in 0.5 to 1 mg/kg increments to a maximum of 8 mg/kg/day; once daily or split into twice daily; administer every other day in severe renal insufficiency or ESRD.
INTERLEUKIN 1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST DEFICIENCY Starting dose 1-2 mg/kg/day SC; titrate in 0.5 to 1 mg/kg increments to a maximum of 8 mg/kg/day; administer every other day in severe renal insufficiency or ESRD.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab
- Known hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived proteins, anakinra, or any components of the product
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 (>=5%) Injection site reaction, worsening of RA, upper respiratory tract infections, headache, nausea, diarrhea, sinusitis, arthralgia, flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain
Serious Serious infections (cellulitis, pneumonia, bone and joint infections), neutropenia (particularly in combination with TNF blocking agents), lymphoma, other malignancies
Postmarketing Transaminase elevations, non-infectious hepatitis, thrombocytopenia (including severe), DRESS, injection site amyloid deposits
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.
IL-1 receptor antagonist; anakinra is a recombinant human IL-1Ra that competitively inhibits IL-1alpha and IL-1beta binding to the interleukin-1 type I receptor (IL-1RI), blocking downstream inflammatory and immunological responses including cartilage degradation and bone resorption.
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)
Kineret
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Actemra
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (4/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Kineret
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (6/8) · Qty limit (1/8)
Humana
Actemra
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Kineret
- 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.
Cost estimate not availableAssistance Fund: Rheumatoid Arthritis
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.