ORENCIA is an infusion treatment for adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and for children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is used in combination with a medicine called methotrexate. The active ingredient of ORENCIA, abatacept, is a protein produced in cell cultures.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term progressive systemic disease that, if untreated, can lead to serious consequences, such as joint destruction, increased disability and impairment of daily activities. In people with rheumatoid arthritis the body's own immune system attacks normal body tissues, leading to pain and swelling of the joints. This can cause joint damage. ORENCIA lessens the immune system's attack on normal tissues by interfering with the immune cells (called T lymphocytes) that contribute to the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
ORENCIA is used to treat moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis when you do not respond well enough to treatment with other disease-modifying medicines or with another group of medicines called TNF blockers.
Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a long-term inflammatory disease affecting one or more joints in children and adolescents.
ORENCIA is used after another group of medicines called TNF blockers. If you do not respond well enough to these medicines, you will be given ORENCIA with methotrexate to treat your polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
ORENCIA is used to:
- slow down the damage to your joints
- improve your physical function
- improve signs and symptoms of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis