Orencia is an injectable, synthetic protein produced by recombinant DNA technology, which is used for treating rheumatoid arthritis developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.  The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against foreign invaders, for instance, infectious agents such as bacteria. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks and destroys normal tissue in and around the joints, causing pain, inflammation and damage to bone and cartilage. T-lymphocytes are significant cells of the immune system. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have increased numbers of T-lymphocytes within the joints, which are inflamed. The T-lymphocytes are ?activated,? that is, they multiply and release chemicals, which promote the destruction of tissues surrounding the joints and cause the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abatacept Orencia

Abatacept Orencia acts like an antibody and attaches to a protein on the surface of T-lymphocytes. By attaching to the protein, Abatacept Orencia prevents the activation of the T-lymphocytes and blocks both the production of new T-lymphocytes and the production of the chemicals that destroy tissue and cause the symptoms and signs of arthritis. Abatacept Orencia slows the damage to bones and cartilage and relieves the symptoms and signs of arthritis.

Side Effects of Orencia

Headache, upper respiratory tract infections and nausea are the most common side effects of Orencia. Because Orencia depresses the immune system it reduces the body?s ability to fight infection.

Cost of Orencia

Orencia is used alone or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not adequately responded to one or more different disease-modifying drugs (i.e., drugs that slow the destruction of joints).