| Rheumatoid Arthritis
Actemra vs Rasuvo
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for rheumatoid arthritis.Deep comparison between: Actemra vs Rasuvo 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 signalsRasuvo has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Actemra based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Rasuvo but not Actemra, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Actemra
Rasuvo
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
Once weekly
Folate analog metabolic inhibitor
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
- Juvenile polyarthritis
- Psoriasis
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 7.5 mg SC once weekly as starting dose; adjust gradually to achieve optimal response; doses greater than 20 mg/wk associated with increased serious toxicity; available doses 7.5-30 mg in 2.5 mg increments.
Juvenile polyarthritis 10 mg/m2 SC once weekly as starting dose; adjust gradually to achieve optimal response.
Psoriasis 10-25 mg SC once weekly as starting dose; adjust gradually; do not ordinarily exceed 30 mg/week; reduce to lowest effective dose and longest possible rest period once optimal response achieved.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab
- Pregnancy
- Alcoholism, alcoholic liver disease, or other chronic liver disease
- Overt or laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency syndromes
- Preexisting blood dyscrasias such as bone marrow hypoplasia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or significant anemia
- Known hypersensitivity to methotrexate
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 (>=10%) Elevated liver function tests, nausea, vomiting
Serious Ulcerative stomatitis, leukopenia, hepatotoxicity, bone marrow suppression, interstitial pneumonitis, opportunistic infections, embryo-fetal toxicity, malignant lymphomas
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.
Methotrexate is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor that inhibits dihydrofolic acid reductase, interfering with DNA synthesis, repair, and cellular replication; in rheumatoid arthritis the mechanism may involve immune function modulation, and in psoriasis it exploits the differential in epithelial cell proliferation rates.
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)
Rasuvo
- 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)
Rasuvo
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (4/8)
Humana
Actemra
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Rasuvo
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Actemra.
No savings programs available for Rasuvo.
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.