Injectable Orencia as Good as IV Therapy | Arthritis Information
ATLANTA -- A new version of the rheumatoid arthritis drug abatacept (Orencia) that can be given by subcutaneous injection performed as well as the current intravenous formulation, according to data presented here.
By a wide variety of measures, the injectable biologic was equivalent to the IV formulation in a pivotal 1,457-patient trial, said Mark Genovese, MD, of Stanford University.
He added that it was even better than the IV version in one respect -- the same equivalence was seen with a fixed, 150-mg dose of the subcutaneous formulation, whereas the IV form has to be adjusted for the patient's body weight.
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That's wonderful news. I hope they can do the same for Actemra, getting infused is the pits.What great news!! My RA doctor's nurse practitioner told me last May that the injectible form of Orencia would most likely be approved in the near future. Can't wait until it's approved. Getting the infusions make you feel so dependent on someone else just to get your medicaton. It also makes you so much more aware that you have a serious disease even though you are feeling well!
Sharon
Sharon, not to mention the additional co-pays and all that time away from work making people wonder what's going on.I am on Medicare and medicare does not pay for injectables, so infusions are a must for me, plus I have a ball for the 3 hours that I am there. We can order from the hospital menu for lunch or snacks, we have our own TV and we can use our wireless equipment there. And, I have new friends to chat with.
I can well understand how difficult it is for working people, so old age does have it's perks. lol
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