How TNF Inhibitors Work
TNF inhibitors work by blocking the activity of a protein calledTNF.
TNF inhibitors arebiologics, a class of drugs that are created from living cells.
This process createsmonoclonal antibodies, which areantibodiesthat have been cloned.
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TNF inhibitors are not a first-line treatment for treating RA.
In 1998, it became the first anti-TNF drug to gain FDA approval.
Administration
You take Enbrel by injecting it under your skin.
It comes in an auto-injector pen, pre-filled syringes, or vials that you use to fill syringes yourself.
The standard adult dose is 50 milligrams (mg) once every seven days.
If you have heart disease, Enbrel may make it worse.
Who Shouldn’t Take Enbrel
Don’t start Enbrel if you have a serious infection.
Enbrel may be harmful to people with certain conditions.
It joined Enbrel on the market after gaining FDA approval in 1999.
Remicade is given as an infusion at a healthcare provider’s office, hospital, or clinic.
It can be given as frequently as every 4 weeks for patients that have an incomplete response.
Your healthcare provider will determine the proper dosage for your infusions.
The manufacturer, Janssen, offersprograms to help you cover the costs, whether or not you’re insured.
Humira
Humira (adalimumab), approved in 2002, was the first fully-humanized monoclonal antibody.
You inject yourself under the skin with Humira.
It’s available in a pre-filled syringe or injector pen.
Pediatric doses of Humira vary by weight, with different ranges for different conditions.
This drug isn’t recommended during pregnancy or lactation.
As with all TNF inhibitors, you should not take Humira if you have cancer.
Online estimates for Humira costs are around $5,800 dollars per month (two doses).
Manufacturer AbbVie offersprograms to helpyou pay for the drug.
Cimzia
Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is a fully-humanized monoclonal antibody approved in 2008.
For most indications, you start out with two separate injections of 200 mg each.
You take the same amount two weeks later and two weeks after that.
Your maintenance dose will then be either 200 mg every 14 days or 400 mg every 28 days.
Online estimates for Cimzia range from around $4,500 to $7,200 for a single 200-mg dosage.
UBC, the manufacturer, offersprograms to helpcover the cost.
Simponi
Simponi (golimumab) is a fully-humanized monoclonal antibody.
The FDA granted it approval in 2009.
Simponi is self-injected under the skin.
For most conditions, the standard dose is 50 mg once a month.
After the first infusion, you’ll get a dose every eight weeks thereafter.
Each infusion should last about 30 minutes.
Who Shouldn’t Take Simponi
You shouldn’t start taking Simponi while you have an active infection.
Online cost estimates for Simponi range from about $4,500 to $7,700.
Janssen, the manufacturer, has aprogram designed to helpyou pay for the medication.
Biosimilars are typically less expensive than biologics.
A pharmacy can’t substitute a biosimilar for the reference product.
If you want the biosimilar, you have to get a prescription specifically for it.
Speak with your healthcare provider.
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