ORENCIA (also known as Abatacept)

Mechanism:

Orencia is an antibody modified to prevent full activation of T cells.  As an immunomodulator, Orencia has been a helpful treatment for various autoimmune conditions.

Indications:

• Active, moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (adults)
• Active, moderate-to-severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (also known as “juvenile rheumatoid arthritis”) (age >= 6)
• Active psoriatic arthritis.

Contraindications:

Patients with history of recurrent infections and/or COPD should consult with their physicians prior to starting on Orencia.

Administration:

Orencia is typically administered as a 30 minute infusion every 2 weeks for the first 3 doses and every 4 weeks thereafter.