Drug Safety

Alerts about drug supply changes and other information are posted here as appropriate.

Medication Quick Guides - Members Only

Administration of In-Office Biologics and Other Rheumatic Agents
The following guides were developed to assist registered nurses (RNs) and other health professionals new to rheumatology or those in need of basic information about each of the listed agents. The information has been obtained from the manufacturer's Full Prescribing Information document for each agent as well as the ACR Model Biologics Policy.

Patient Assistance Programs for Rheumatology Related Drugs are also available.

Click each title for full details:

Updated April 2012

Medication Quick Guides

Biologics

  1. Abatacept (Orencia) is a biologic response modifier that binds to CD80 and CD86 receptors on the antigen-presenting cell and prevents these receptors from binding to CD28 receptors on T cells, which decrease inflammation by downregulating T cell activation.
  2. Belimumab (Benlysta) is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to soluble B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), inhibiting BLyS. This action inhibits survival of B cells and reduces differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells.
  3. Certolizumab Pegol (Cimzia) is a recombinant, humanized antibody to Fab' fragment, with specificity for human TNF-α, conjugated to an approximately 40kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG2MAL40K).
  4. Infliximab (Remicade) is a chimeric (part mouse, part human) monoclonal antibody that blocks activity of a key biologic response mediator called "tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha".
  5. Rituximab (Rituxan) is a genetically engineered chimeric murine/human monoclonal AgG, kappa antibody directed against the CD20 antigen.
  6. Tocilizumab (Actemra) is a recombinant humanized anti-human interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor monoclonal antibody of the immunoglobulin IgG1κ subclass with a typical H2L2 polypeptide structure.

ANTIRESORPTIVE

  1. Ibandronate (Boniva) is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate that inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.
  2. Denosumab (Prolia) is a human monoclonal antibody to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-beta ligand (RANKL). Binding to RANKL inhibits activation of RANK on the surface of osteoclasts and its precursors thereby inhibiting osteoclast formation, maintenance, and survival, leading to decreased bone resorption and remodeling therefore increasing bone mass in both cortical and trabecular bone.
  3. Zoledronic Acid (Reclast) is a bisphosphonate and acts primarily on bone. It is an inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.