If your doctor just prescribed Remicade, you've probably already seen the price tag and felt a little overwhelmed. Here's what's actually involved - and what changes when a specialty pharmacy handles the details for you.
If your doctor just prescribed Remicade (pronounced REM-ih-kade; generic name infliximab), 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 Remicade - and what changes when a specialty pharmacy supports you through it.
Remicade is a biologic that works by blocking a protein (TNF) involved in inflammation. It's approved for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Unlike some other biologics, Remicade is given as an IV infusion - typically at an infusion center or clinic - rather than a self-administered injection at home.
If your infusion center or insurance mentions a biosimilar instead of brand-name Remicade, that's a normal and common part of infliximab treatment today. Several FDA-approved infliximab biosimilars are available (including Inflectra, Renflexis, and Avsola), all required by the FDA to be just as safe and effective as the original. Many insurance plans and health systems now prefer these lower-cost options, and switching between them is common practice, not a sign of a problem with your treatment.
One option worth knowing about if you're interested in avoiding infusion visits: Zymfentra, an infliximab-based product FDA-approved in more recent years, is given as a subcutaneous injection you can do yourself at home, unlike Remicade and its biosimilars, which all require an IV infusion. Some patients start on IV infliximab and later transition to Zymfentra for maintenance - that's a conversation worth having with your doctor if at-home administration appeals to you.
Remicade is given at an infusion centre - we coordinate the medication, the site does the infusion.
Cost varies significantly depending on your dose, biosimilar vs. brand, and where you receive your infusion - commonly cited in the range of $5,000 to $12,000 per infusion for brand Remicade, with biosimilars often running $3,000 to $7,000. With commercial insurance and manufacturer copay support, many patients pay as little as $5 per infusion. This is exactly the kind of insurance complexity a specialty pharmacy helps coordinate alongside your infusion center.
Remicade (and its biosimilars) typically starts with loading doses at weeks 0, 2, and 6, followed by maintenance infusions every 8 weeks. Each infusion takes about 2 to 3 hours. Always follow your care team's specific schedule rather than a general timeline like this one.
Sorrento Remicade Services
Learn more about our Remicade specialty pharmacy services →
Is a Remicade biosimilar as good as the original?
Yes - the FDA requires biosimilars to demonstrate no clinically meaningful difference in safety or effectiveness before approval.
Can I get Remicade at home instead of an infusion center?
Not Remicade itself - it's IV-only. If at-home administration matters to you, ask your doctor about Zymfentra, a related infliximab product given as a self-injection.
Can Sorrento help even if I'm not in the Glendale area?
Yes - we're licensed throughout California and support patients receiving infusions statewide.
Our team assists with prior authorization, insurance verification, and savings program enrollment - so your therapy starts without delay. Free delivery throughout California. Learn more about our Remicade pharmacy services →
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