| Rheumatoid Arthritis
Actemra vs Simponi
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for rheumatoid arthritis.Deep comparison between: Actemra vs Simponi 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 signalsSimponi has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Actemra based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Simponi but not Actemra, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Actemra
Simponi
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
Every 4 weeks
TNF-alpha 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
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Ulcerative Colitis
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, Arthritis, Psoriatic, Ankylosing spondylitis 50 mg SC once a month.
Ulcerative Colitis (adults and pediatric patients >=40 kg) 200 mg SC at Week 0, 100 mg at Week 2, then 100 mg every 4 weeks.
Ulcerative Colitis (pediatric patients >=15 kg to <40 kg) 100 mg SC at Week 0, 50 mg at Week 2, then 50 mg every 4 weeks.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab
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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 (>=1%) Upper respiratory tract infection, viral infections, bronchitis, superficial fungal infections, sinusitis, injection site reaction, alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, hypertension, dizziness, paresthesia, constipation
Serious Serious infections, malignancies, congestive heart failure, demyelinating disorders, hepatitis B reactivation, autoimmunity, hematologic cytopenias, hypersensitivity reactions
Postmarketing Serious systemic hypersensitivity reactions, sarcoidosis, melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, interstitial lung disease, skin exfoliation, lichenoid reactions, rash, bullous skin reactions
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.
Golimumab is a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (TNF-alpha inhibitor) that binds to both the soluble and transmembrane bioactive forms of human TNF-alpha, preventing its binding to receptors and inhibiting the biological activity of TNF-alpha in inflammatory diseases.
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)
Simponi
- 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)
Simponi
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (8/8) · Step Therapy (7/8) · Qty limit (7/8)
Humana
Actemra
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Simponi
- 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.
No savings programs available for Simponi.
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.