| Rheumatoid Arthritis
Orencia vs Purified Cortrophin Gel
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for rheumatoid arthritis.Deep comparison between: Orencia vs Purified Cortrophin Gel 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 signalsPurified Cortrophin Gel has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Orencia based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Purified Cortrophin Gel but not Orencia, including UnitedHealthcare
Sign up to reveal the full AI analysis
Category
Orencia
Purified Cortrophin Gel
At A Glance
SC injection, IV infusion
Weekly (SC) or every 4 weeks (IV)
Selective T-cell costimulation modulator
SC/IM injection
Corticotropin (ACTH)
Indications
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Juvenile polyarthritis
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Acute GVH disease
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Primary gout
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
- Polymyositis
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
- Psoriasis
- Dermatitis, Atopic
- Serum Sickness
- Allergic Conjunctivitis
- Keratitis
- Iritis
- Iridocyclitis
- Uveitis
- Optic Neuritis
- Chorioretinitis
- Sarcoidosis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis
Dosing
Rheumatoid Arthritis IV: weight-based (500-1,000 mg) infused over 30 minutes at Weeks 0, 2, and 4, then every 4 weeks; SC: 125 mg once weekly, with optional IV loading dose on Day 1.
Juvenile polyarthritis IV (>=6 yrs): 10 mg/kg (body weight <75 kg) or adult weight-based dose (>=75 kg, max 1,000 mg) at Weeks 0, 2, and 4, then every 4 weeks; SC (>=2 yrs): 50 mg (10 to <25 kg), 87.5 mg (25 to <50 kg), or 125 mg (>=50 kg) once weekly without IV loading dose.
Arthritis, Psoriatic Adult IV: weight-based (500-1,000 mg) over 30 minutes at Weeks 0, 2, and 4, then every 4 weeks; Adult SC: 125 mg once weekly without IV loading dose; Pediatric SC (>=2 yrs): 50 mg (10 to <25 kg), 87.5 mg (25 to <50 kg), or 125 mg (>=50 kg) once weekly.
Acute GVH disease IV: patients >=6 yrs: 10 mg/kg (max 1,000 mg) over 60 minutes on Day -1, then Days 5, 14, and 28 post-transplant; patients 2 to <6 yrs: 15 mg/kg on Day -1, then 12 mg/kg on Days 5, 14, and 28.
Arthritis, Psoriatic, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Primary gout, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Polymyositis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Psoriasis, Dermatitis, Atopic, Serum Sickness, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Keratitis, Iritis, Iridocyclitis, Uveitis, Optic Neuritis, Chorioretinitis, Sarcoidosis, Nephrotic Syndrome Dose individualized based on disease severity, plasma and urine corticosteroid levels, and patient response; administer SC or IM; verify adrenal responsiveness prior to treatment (up to 80 units as a single injection); chronic doses above 40 units daily associated with uncontrollable adverse effects.
Multiple Sclerosis 80-120 units daily SC or IM for 2-3 weeks for acute exacerbations.
Contraindications
—
- Intravenous administration
- Scleroderma
- Osteoporosis
- Systemic fungal infections
- Ocular herpes simplex
- Recent surgery
- History of or presence of a peptic ulcer
- Congestive heart failure
- Hypertension
- Sensitivity to proteins derived from porcine sources
- Primary adrenocortical insufficiency
- Adrenocortical hyperfunction
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=10%) Headache, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea (RA); in aGVHD: anemia, hypertension, CMV reactivation/infection, pyrexia, pneumonia, epistaxis, CD4 lymphocytes decreased, hypermagnesemia, acute kidney injury.
Serious Serious infections (pneumonia, cellulitis, urinary tract infection, bronchitis, diverticulitis), malignancies (lung cancer, lymphoma), hypersensitivity reactions, acute infusion-related reactions, COPD exacerbation.
Postmarketing Vasculitis (cutaneous and leukocytoclastic), new or worsening psoriasis, non-melanoma skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma), angioedema, fatal anaphylaxis (IV), systemic injection reactions (SC).
Fluid and Electrolyte Sodium retention, hypokalemic alkalosis, fluid retention, calcium loss, potassium loss
Musculoskeletal Muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, steroid myopathy, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, pathologic fracture of long bones
Gastrointestinal Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage, abdominal distention, ulcerative esophagitis, pancreatitis
Dermatologic Injection site reactions, impaired wound healing, increased sweating, thin fragile skin, suppression of skin test reactions, petechiae and ecchymoses, acne, hyperpigmentation, facial erythema
Cardiovascular Hypertension, congestive heart failure, necrotizing angiitis
Neurological Convulsions, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema, headache, vertigo
Endocrine Menstrual irregularities, Cushingoid state, suppression of growth in children, secondary adrenocortical and pituitary insufficiency, decreased carbohydrate tolerance, manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, hirsutism
Ophthalmic Posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma with possible damage to optic nerve, exophthalmos
Metabolic Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism
Allergic Dizziness, nausea and vomiting, skin reactions, anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock, urticaria, respiratory compromise, edema)
Miscellaneous Weight gain, abscess, development of antibodies and loss of stimulatory effect
Pharmacology
Abatacept is a selective T-cell costimulation modulator that inhibits T-lymphocyte activation by binding to CD80 and CD86, thereby blocking the CD28 costimulatory interaction required for full T-cell activation; activated T lymphocytes are implicated in the pathogenesis of RA, pJIA, and PsA.
Purified Cortrophin Gel is an anterior pituitary hormone (corticotropin/ACTH) that stimulates the functioning adrenal cortex to produce and secrete adrenocortical hormones; it is formulated as a porcine-derived purified ACTH in a sterile gelatin solution for prolonged activity.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Orencia
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
Purified Cortrophin Gel
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Orencia
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (5/8) · Qty limit (5/8)
Purified Cortrophin Gel
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Orencia
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Purified Cortrophin Gel
- 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 Orencia.
No savings programs available for Purified Cortrophin Gel.
Compare Other Drugs
Let us handle your prior authsJust enter your patient's info and we'll:
- Verify eligibility with the payer.
- Pull the right PA forms directly from the payer.
- Submit, track & send live updates to your dashboard.
Free to start · HIPAA compliant
Next Steps for Your Patient
OrenciaView full Orencia profile
Purified Cortrophin GelView full Purified Cortrophin Gel profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.