Actemra
(tocilizumab)Dosage & administration
For RA, pJIA and sJIA, ACTEMRA may be used alone or in combination with methotrexate: and in RA, other DMARDs may be used.
General Administration and Dosing Information
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Recommended Adult Intravenous Dosage:
When used in combination with DMARDs or as monotherapy the recommended starting dose is 4 mg per kg every 4 weeks followed by an increase to 8 mg per kg every 4 weeks based on clinical response.
Recommended Adult Subcutaneous Dosage:
Patients less than 100 kg weight | 162 mg administered subcutaneously every other week, followed by an increase to every week based on clinical response |
Patients at or above 100 kg weight | 162 mg administered subcutaneously every week |
Giant Cell Arteritis
Recommended Adult Intravenous Dosage:
The recommended dose is 6 mg per kg every 4 weeks in combination with a tapering course of glucocorticoids. ACTEMRA can be used alone following discontinuation of glucocorticoids.
Recommended Adult Subcutaneous Dosage:
The recommended dose is 162 mg given once every week as a subcutaneous injection, in combination with a tapering course of glucocorticoids.
A dose of 162 mg given once every other week as a subcutaneous injection, in combination with a tapering course of glucocorticoids, may be prescribed based on clinical considerations.
ACTEMRA can be used alone following discontinuation of glucocorticoids.
Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (SSc-ILD)
Recommended Adult Subcutaneous Dosage:
The recommended dose of ACTEMRA for adult patients with SSc-ILD is 162 mg given once every week as a subcutaneous injection.
Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Recommended Intravenous PJIA Dosage Every 4 Weeks | |
---|---|
Patients less than 30 kg weight | 10 mg per kg |
Patients at or above 30 kg weight | 8 mg per kg |
Recommended Subcutaneous PJIA Dosage | |
---|---|
Patients less than 30 kg weight | 162 mg once every three weeks |
Patients at or above 30 kg weight | 162 mg once every two weeks |
Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Recommended Intravenous SJIA Dosage Every 2 Weeks | |
---|---|
Patients less than 30 kg weight | 12 mg per kg |
Patients at or above 30 kg weight | 8 mg per kg |
Recommended Subcutaneous SJIA Dosage | |
---|---|
Patients less than 30 kg weight | 162 mg every two weeks |
Patients at or above 30 kg weight | 162 mg every week |
Cytokine Release Syndrome
Recommended Intravenous CRS Dosage | |
---|---|
Patients less than 30 kg weight | 12 mg per kg |
Patients at or above 30 kg weight | 8 mg per kg |
Alone or in combination with corticosteroids. |
Coronavirus Disease 2019
The recommended dosage of ACTEMRA for adult patients with COVID-19 is 8 mg per kg administered by a 60-minute intravenous infusion.
Administration of Intravenous formulation
Administration of Subcutaneous formulation
Dose Modifications
drug label
Actemra prescribing information
prior authorization
Actemra prior authorization resources
Most recent Actemra prior authorization forms
View By PayerBenefits investigation
pharmacy
Actemra preferred pharmacy
financial assistance
Actemra financial assistance options
Co-pay savings program
Overview
- Reduce patient OOP costs for drug (and occasionally for drug administration/infusion costs or drug-related test costs)
Patient benefit
- A portion (or all) of patient OOP (deductible, copay), typically up to monthly and/or annual max
Patient eligibility
- Patient must enroll or activate (may permit HCPs to enroll on patient’s behalf for HCP-administered drugs)
- Generally, must have commercial insurance (rarely, may permit uninsured patients to use)
- May never be used with government insurance
How to sign up
- Cards may be downloadable digital cards or hard copies
- Some pharmacos offer debit cards with pre-loaded copay benefit
- Typically, available through multiple channels (e.g., rep to HCP to patient; pharmacy to patient; patient via website, Hub live agent, or copay vendor (live agent or IVR); patient and HCP via Hub enrollment form)
- Some HCP-administered product programs permit HCPs to enroll on a patient’s behalf through via Hub form
Bridge program
Overview
- Provide patient immediate access to therapy during an insurance delay (typically new starts; some may cover change in insurance)
- Limited time/ fill (typically 7-30 days; some may offer additional fill for continued delay up to certain limit)
Patient benefit
- 100% free (outside of insurance)
Patient eligibility
- HCP must enroll patient
- May be limited to commercially insured patients (i.e., no government beneficiaries); some programs may allow government beneficiaries
How to sign up
- Typically HCP assisted enrollment (via form)
Foundation programs
Overview
- Charitable 501(c)(3) organizations provide direct cost-sharing and other support (e.g., travel, counseling) through disease-state funds to indigent patients on first-come first-served basis
- These organizations may receive financial contributions from drug manaufacturers for particular disease-state funds that cannot provide funds directly to patients - the foundation must be independent/unaligned
Patient benefit
- Patients apply for grants that cover a portion (or all) of their out-of-pocket costs (deductibles and co-pays) until the grant is exhausted
Patient eligibility
- Patients must apply and meet eligibility criteria including income level (typically a multiple of federal poverty line), specific diagnosis, insurance status, etc.
How to sign up
- Patients submit proof of out-of-pocket drug costs to charities for reimbursement
patient education
Actemra patient education
Getting started on Actemra
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Patient toolkit
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