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Orencia

Pronunciation: oh-REN-see-ah
Generic name: abatacept
Dosage form: Injectable IV infusion, single-dose prefilled syringe for SC use, single-dose prefilled ClickJect SC autoinjector
Drug classes: Antirheumatics, Selective immunosuppressants

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 1, 2023.

What is Orencia?

Orencia (abatacept) is a type of biologic that is given by intravenous infusion or subcutaneous (under the skin) injection which helps prevent your body's immune system from attacking healthy joints and other tissues and is approved for:

Orencia works by helping to block T-cell activation in the immune system and belongs to the class of medicines known as selective T-cell costimulation modulators. Blocking T-cell activation interrupts the cycle that can lead to joint inflammation, pain, and destruction in certain forms of arthritis and acute graft versus host disease. T-cells are part of the immune system that helps to protect you from certain infections and cancers. It is not a cure for any autoimmune disorder and will only treat the symptoms of your condition.

Orencia was first FDA-approved on 23 December 2005.

Warnings

Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred.

Orencia carries a risk of serious infections. People with a history of recurrent infections or with underlying conditions that predispose them to infections (such as a weakened immune system, COPD, or diabetes) are more at risk. Using Orencia with a TNF antagonist can increase your infection risk.

Your doctor should screen you for viral hepatitis and latent TB infection before starting treatment with Orencia.  If you test positive for TB your doctor will initiate TB treatment.

All your childhood vaccinations and other age-appropriate vaccinations should be up to date before starting Orencia. Live vaccines should not be given concurrently or within 3 months of discontinuation. Orencia may blunt the effectiveness of some immunizations.

The risk of respiratory side effects may be more common in patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). There is a risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) reactivation in patients treated for aGVHD prophylaxis.

It is not known if Orencia is safe and effective in children less than two years of age.

Before taking

You should not use Orencia if you are allergic to Orencia, abatacept, or any of the components of the intravenous or subcutaneous injection.

Before you receive or use Orencia, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have:

Some people treated with Orencia have developed skin cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a family or personal history of skin cancer, or if you see any growths or changes in the appearance of your skin during or after treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It is not known if Orencia can harm an unborn baby. If you inadvertently become pregnant while taking Orencia, register with the pregnancy registry by calling 1-877-311-8972. When your baby is born talk to your healthcare provider before your baby receives any vaccines.

It is not known if Orencia passes into breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

How will I receive Orencia?

Orencia is usually injected as an infusion into the vein initially, and, depending on your condition, it can be self-administered at home as an injection under the skin. A healthcare provider will give your first dose and may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.

For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis

The first dose of Orencia may be given by a healthcare provider through a vein in your arm (intravenous infusion).

You may also receive Orencia as an injection under your skin (subcutaneous).

For the preventative treatment of aGVHD

Orencia is given by a healthcare provider through a vein in your arm over 60 minutes on the day before transplantation (Day 1).

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss your Orencia dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while using Orencia?

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Orencia, and for at least 3 months after your treatment ends. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

What are the side effects of Orencia?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Orencia such as hives; difficulty breathing; or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, light-headed, itchy, or have a severe headache or trouble breathing within 1 hour after receiving the injection.

Orencia may cause serious side effects, including:

The most common side effects of Orencia include:

In children and adolescents, other side effects may include:

The most common side effects of Orencia in the prevention of aGVHD include:

These are not all the possible side effects of Orencia. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Orencia?

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Orencia may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way it works causing serious side effects.

You may have a higher chance of getting a serious infection if you take ORENCIA with other biologic medicines that may affect your immune system. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take other biologic medicines that may affect your immune system, such as:

Orencia can cause false results with certain blood glucose tests, showing high blood sugar readings. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor about the best way to test your blood sugar.

Orencia for intravenous infusion contains maltose, a type of sugar, that can give false high blood sugar readings with certain types of blood glucose monitors on the day of the infusion. Your healthcare provider may tell you to use a different way to monitor your blood sugar levels. Orencia for subcutaneous injection does not contain maltose.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with abatacept, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Storage

Store in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) in its original package (protected from light). Do not freeze.

The prefilled syringe or autoinjector can be left out of the refrigerator for up to 6 hours (without light protection) if the temperature remains between 46°F to 77°F (8°C to 25°C).

Ingredients

Active: abatacept.

Intravenous, inactive: maltose, monobasic sodium phosphate, sodium chloride for administration.

Subcutaneous, inactive: sucrose, poloxamer 188, monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate, dibasic sodium phosphate anhydrous, water for injection.

Manufacturer

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Popular FAQ

Orencia prefilled syringe or autoinjector can be left out of the refrigerator for up to 6 hours (without light protection) if the temperature remains between 46°F to 77°F (8°C to 25°C). You should usually store Orencia in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) in its original package (protected from light) until you are ready to use it. Do not freeze.

Orencia has a very long half-life, which means it can stay in your system for up to 4 months, depending on how healthy you are, if you have rheumatoid arthritis or or other medical conditions, and how long you have been taking it for. The half-life of Orencia is 8 to 25 days, and experts calculate it takes 4 to 5 half-lives for a medicine to be completely removed from your body, which means that Orencia can stay in your body for up to 125 days (just over 4 months).

No, Orencia has not been reported as causing weight gain in clinical studies. Instead, Orencia can commonly cause stomach side effects like nausea (10% or more of patients) and heartburn (6%), which may lower your appetite.

It can take 3 to 6 months for people to respond to Orencia and for Orencia to start working. Individual results can vary, with some people noticing a slight improvement in their symptoms within 2 weeks, but it may take longer for an improvement to be seen for activities such as dressing and grooming, eating and walking.

Orencia is a biologic medicine that works by helping to block T-cell activation in the immune system. This interrupts the cycle that can lead to joint inflammation, pain and destruction in certain forms of arthritis and acute graft versus host disease. T-cells are part of the immune system that help to protect you from certain infections and cancers.

Yes, Orencia is a prescription biologic medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis in adults, and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years of age and older. It is also approved for the prophylaxis of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD). Biologics target proteins and other molecules in the immune system that cause inflammation, pain and destruction.

More FAQ

References

  1. Product Label

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.