Orencia (abatacept)

• Rheumatoid arthritis: adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (a disease where the immune system attacks the joints).
• Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: children 2 years and older with moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (childhood arthritis in many joints); IV infusion is for ages 6 and older.
• Psoriatic arthritis: adults and children 2 years and older with active psoriatic arthritis (joint pain and swelling linked to psoriasis); children get it as a shot under the skin.
• Prevention of acute graft versus host disease: adults and children 2 years and older getting a blood stem cell transplant from a matched or 1-allele-mismatched unrelated donor, used with a calcineurin inhibitor and methotrexate, to help prevent acute graft versus host disease (when donor cells attack the body); IV infusion only.

A prescription is required. Your prescriber decides whether Orencia is right for you.

IV infusion, given by a healthcare professional. When your prescriber agrees it can be given at home, we send a skilled nurse from an accredited nursing agency to give it.

Injection under the skin, given by you or a caregiver, after training. A nurse can show you or a caregiver how to give it.

Storage: Keep Orencia prefilled syringes and ClickJect autoinjectors in the refrigerator in the original package to protect them from light. Do not let them freeze.

Before the first dose, your prescriber may ask for:

• a test for tuberculosis (TB)
• blood tests for viral hepatitis (liver infection caused by a virus)
• a check that your vaccines are up to date

Read the Medication Guide and the full Orencia prescribing information, and ask your prescriber or our pharmacists about side effects. Our pharmacists are on call 24 hours a day.

Health plans often require prior authorization for Orencia. Our intake team checks your coverage and works with your prescriber’s office on the paperwork before your first delivery.

The manufacturer runs a support program, Orencia On Call, that may help eligible patients with costs and access.

Offices can call (844) 671-2600 or fax a referral to (844) 671-2601. Use the Rheumatology Referral Form (PDF).

The manufacturer also publishes Orencia On Call enrollment form and access resources.