| Rheumatoid Arthritis
Actemra vs Rinvoq
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for rheumatoid arthritis.Deep comparison between: Actemra vs Rinvoq 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 signalsRinvoq has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Actemra based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Rinvoq but not Actemra, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Actemra
Rinvoq
At A Glance
IV infusion or SC injection
Every 4 weeks (IV) or Every week to Every other week (SC)
IL-6 receptor antagonist
Oral
Once daily or twice daily (pediatric oral solution)
JAK 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
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Dermatitis, Atopic
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn Disease
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis
- Juvenile polyarthritis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
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 15 mg orally once daily
Arthritis, Psoriatic - Adults 15 mg orally once daily
Arthritis, Psoriatic - Pediatric 2 to <18 years Dosing based on weight: 10-<20 kg: 3 mg oral solution twice daily; 20-<30 kg: 4 mg oral solution twice daily; >=30 kg: 6 mg oral solution twice daily or 15 mg tablet once daily
Dermatitis, Atopic - Adults <65 years 15 mg orally once daily; may increase to 30 mg once daily if inadequate response
Dermatitis, Atopic - Adults >=65 years 15 mg orally once daily
Ulcerative Colitis - Induction 45 mg orally once daily for 8 weeks
Ulcerative Colitis - Maintenance 15 mg orally once daily; may use 30 mg once daily for refractory, severe, or extensive disease
Crohn Disease - Induction 45 mg orally once daily for 12 weeks
Crohn Disease - Maintenance 15 mg orally once daily; may use 30 mg once daily for refractory, severe, or extensive disease
Ankylosing spondylitis 15 mg orally once daily
Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis 15 mg orally once daily
Juvenile polyarthritis Dosing based on weight: 10-<20 kg: 3 mg oral solution twice daily; 20-<30 kg: 4 mg oral solution twice daily; >=30 kg: 6 mg oral solution twice daily or 15 mg tablet once daily
Giant Cell Arteritis 15 mg orally once daily in combination with tapering corticosteroids; may continue as monotherapy after corticosteroid discontinuation
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab
- Known hypersensitivity to upadacitinib or any excipients
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 (>=3%) - Rheumatoid Arthritis Upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, cough, pyrexia
Most common (>=3%) - Atopic Dermatitis Upper respiratory tract infection, acne, herpes simplex, headache, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, cough, hypersensitivity, folliculitis, nausea, abdominal pain
Most common (>=3%) - Ulcerative Colitis Induction Upper respiratory tract infection, acne, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, neutropenia, rash, elevated liver enzymes, lymphopenia
Most common (>=3%) - Ulcerative Colitis Maintenance Upper respiratory tract infection, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, pyrexia, neutropenia, elevated liver enzymes, rash, herpes zoster, folliculitis, hypercholesterolemia, influenza, herpes simplex
Most common (>=3%) - Crohn Disease Induction Upper respiratory tract infection, anemia, acne, pyrexia, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, influenza, herpes simplex
Most common (>=3%) - Crohn Disease Maintenance Upper respiratory tract infection, pyrexia, herpes zoster, headache, acne, gastroenteritis, fatigue, increased blood creatine phosphokinase
Most common (>=5%) - Giant Cell Arteritis Upper respiratory tract infection, headache, fatigue, peripheral edema, cough, anemia, rash, herpes zoster, nausea
Serious Serious infections, opportunistic infections, tuberculosis, malignancies, major adverse cardiovascular events, thrombosis, gastrointestinal perforations, hypersensitivity reactions, eczema herpeticum
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.
Upadacitinib is a JAK inhibitor that modulates intracellular signaling by preventing JAK-mediated phosphorylation and activation of STATs, thereby influencing immune cell function and hematopoiesis.
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)
Rinvoq
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (12/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Actemra
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (4/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Rinvoq
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (8/8) · Step Therapy (8/8) · Qty limit (8/8)
Humana
Actemra
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Rinvoq
- 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 availableCo-Pay Relief Rheumatoid Arthritis Fund
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
Final cost depends on formulary coverage
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.