Starting Orencia (Abatacept):
What Actually Happens

If your doctor just prescribed Orencia (pronounced or-EN-see-uh; generic name abatacept), you've probably already done a few things: googled the name, seen a price tag with a lot of zeros, and maybe felt a little overwhelmed. That's normal. Here's what's actually involved in starting Orencia - and what changes when a specialty pharmacy supports you through it.

What Is Orencia Used For?

Orencia is a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) that blocks T-cell activation involved in inflammation. It's approved for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 2 and older, and is also used to help prevent short-term graft-versus-host disease after certain transplants.

Orencia Comes in Two Very Different Forms - Know Which One You're Getting

Unlike some biologics, Orencia is available both as a self-administered subcutaneous injection (prefilled syringe or the ClickJect autoinjector) and as an IV infusion given by a healthcare provider. Which one you're prescribed depends on your doctor's recommendation and your specific situation - this isn't a choice most patients make alone, but it's worth knowing both exist so you understand what to expect.

Every dose is checked and handled under controlled conditions before it reaches you.

What Orencia Actually Costs (And Why the Sticker Price Is Misleading)

The list price for Orencia is real, and it's startling - commonly cited around $6,300 to $7,100 per month for the IV form, or about $3,660 for a month's supply of the subcutaneous ClickJect autoinjector. But almost nobody pays that number. With commercial insurance and the Orencia Co-Pay Assistance Program from Bristol Myers Squibb, eligible patients can pay as little as $5 per month for the subcutaneous form, up to $15,000 in annual savings.

The catch is that getting to that lower number involves paperwork: prior authorization, savings program enrollment, and sometimes an appeal if your insurance initially denies coverage. This is the single biggest thing a specialty pharmacy does that a regular retail pharmacy doesn't.

How Sorrento Supports You Through All of It

• Prior authorization assistance and insurance benefits verification, for either form
• Savings program enrollment support through the Orencia Co-Pay Assistance Program
• Coordination support if you're prescribed the IV infusion form
• Personal injection support if you're prescribed the self-administered form
• Free, temperature-controlled delivery anywhere in California
• Refill reminders and a direct line to our pharmacist team - no call centers

Frequently Asked Questions