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Abatacept

Brand names: Orencia

Abatacept (brand name Orencia) is a medicine that helps control the immune system. It is a selective T cell costimulation modulator.

What it is used for

Orencia is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), patients 2 years and older with moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA), patients 2 years and older with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and to prevent acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) in adults and children 2 years and older undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a matched or 1 allele-mismatched unrelated donor.

How it is taken

Orencia can be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion or a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. For IV, doses are based on body weight and given over 30 minutes (or 60 minutes for aGVHD) at weeks 0, 2, and 4, then every 4 weeks. For subcutaneous, the usual dose is 125 mg once weekly for adults, with or without an IV loading dose. For children with pJIA or PsA, subcutaneous doses are based on weight (50 mg, 87.5 mg, or 125 mg once weekly). For aGVHD prophylaxis, IV doses are given on the day before transplant and on days 5, 14, and 28 after transplant.

Warnings

  • Increased risk of serious infections when used with TNF antagonists, other biologic RA/PsA therapy, or JAK inhibitors. Concomitant use is not recommended.
  • Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred.
  • Infections, including serious infections, have been reported.
  • Patients with COPD may have more adverse events, including respiratory disorders.
  • Immunosuppression may increase the risk of malignancies.
  • CMV and EBV reactivation can occur in aGVHD prophylaxis after HSCT.

Common side effects

  • Headache
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Nasopharyngitis
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Cough
  • Back pain
  • Hypertension
  • Dyspepsia
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Rash
  • Pain in extremity
  • Injection site reactions (for subcutaneous use)
  • Anemia (for aGVHD prophylaxis)
  • Pyrexia (for aGVHD prophylaxis)
  • Pneumonia (for aGVHD prophylaxis)
  • Epistaxis (for aGVHD prophylaxis)
  • CD4 lymphocytes decreased (for aGVHD prophylaxis)
  • Hypermagnesemia (for aGVHD prophylaxis)
  • Acute kidney injury (for aGVHD prophylaxis)

Interactions

Concomitant use of Orencia with TNF antagonists, other biologic RA/PsA therapy, or JAK inhibitors is not recommended due to increased risk of serious infections. For IV Orencia, the maltose in the product can interfere with certain blood glucose monitors using GDH-PQQ test strips, causing falsely high readings. Patients should use alternative glucose monitoring methods on infusion days.

This summary is written in plain language from the official FDA label. Always follow the directions from your own prescriber and pharmacist, and read the full label linked below.

Frequently asked questions

What is Orencia used for?

Orencia is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, children 2 years and older with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, and to prevent acute graft versus host disease in patients 2 years and older undergoing stem cell transplant.

How is Orencia given?

Orencia can be given as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes (or 60 minutes for aGVHD) or as a subcutaneous injection once weekly. Doses depend on body weight and the condition being treated.

Can I take Orencia with other arthritis medicines?

No. The label says that using Orencia with other biologic RA/PsA drugs or JAK inhibitors is not recommended because it increases the risk of serious infections.

What are the most common side effects of Orencia?

The most common side effects in RA patients include headache, upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, and nausea. For aGVHD prophylaxis, common side effects include anemia, hypertension, CMV reactivation, fever, pneumonia, and nosebleeds.

Does Orencia affect blood sugar testing?

Yes, the intravenous form of Orencia contains maltose, which can interfere with certain blood glucose monitors that use GDH-PQQ test strips, causing falsely high readings. Patients should use a different testing method on infusion days. The subcutaneous form does not contain maltose.

Other medications

Sources

Last updated . Information is aggregated from official public sources and is not a substitute for professional medical care.