Orencia® (abatacept) | Orencia Benefits

Oh, yes I can!(TM) / Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis RA

Who can take ORENCIA

Adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

ORENCIA has been shown to reduce signs and symptoms in adults with moderate to severe (RA), including those who have not been helped enough by other medicines for RA. ORENCIA may prevent further damage to bones and joints, and may help with the ability to perform daily activities.

Children with moderate to severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

ORENCIA is indicated for reducing the signs and symptoms in pediatric patients 6 years of age or older with moderately to severely active polyarticular JIA. ORENCIA may be used by itself or in combination with methotrexate.

How ORENCIA can help improve your health-related quality of life.

Select the link below to watch a special slidehow about how ORENCIA might be able to make an impact on your health related quality of life. Learn about the specific areas scientists use to study the impact moderate to severe RA can have on patients beyond just the symptoms, such as:

•	Physical limitations in daily activities
•	Vitality or social function
•	Mental and general health

How satisfied are you with your ability to do everyday tasks?

After watching the health-quality of life slideshow, take our brief Satisfaction RAter assessment, a great tool that lets you assess how well you're living with your RA on a daily basis. It includes a health survey that covers 8 key areas RA may be affecting you physically and emotionally.

Open up to your doctor about RA

Once you have a better understanding of how RA affects your daily life, you can use our Doctor Discussion Guide to help prepare for your next rheumatologist visit. It's a tool that can help you have a more meaningful and productive conversation with your doctor — complete with questions to ask and information you need to share. Browse through this section to find helpful tips, advice and answers to many of your questions.

The more common side effects with ORENCIA are headache, upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, and nausea.

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ORENCIA® (abatacept) Important Safety Information

Indication and Usage
ORENCIA® (abatacept) is a prescription medicine that reduces signs and symptoms in adults with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including those who have not been helped enough by other medicines for RA. ORENCIA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints, and may help your ability to perform daily activities. ORENCIA also reduces signs and symptoms in children and adolescents 6 years of age and older with moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

ORENCIA can also make your immune system less able to fight infections, so you may be more likely to get infections or any infection you have may get worse. It is important to tell your doctor if you think you have any infections.

Important Safety Information About ORENCIA^® (abatacept)

Before you receive treatment with ORENCIA, a lyophilized powder for intravenous infusion, you should tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:

	have any kind of infection even if it is small (such as an open cut or sore) or an infection that is in your whole body (such as the flu).
	have an infection that will not go away or a history of infections that keep coming back.
	have had tuberculosis (TB), a positive skin test for TB, or if you recently have been in close contact with someone who has had TB. If you get any of the symptoms of TB (a dry cough that doesn't go away, weight loss, fever, night sweats), call your doctor right away. Before you start ORENCIA, your doctor may examine you for TB or perform a skin test.
	have or have had viral hepatitis. Before you use ORENCIA, your doctor may examine you for hepatitis.
	have a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary (lung) disease (COPD).
	are scheduled to have surgery.
	are allergic to any of the following ingredients in ORENCIA: abatacept, maltose, monobasic sodium phosphate, or sodium chloride for administration.
	recently received a vaccination or are scheduled for any vaccination. You should not take live vaccines if you are receiving ORENCIA.
	have diabetes and use a blood glucose monitor to check your sugar levels. The infusion of ORENCIA contains maltose, a sugar that can give falsely high blood glucose readings with some monitors on the day you receive your infusion. Your doctor may tell you to use a different way to monitor your blood sugar levels.
	are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are thinking about becoming pregnant. It is not known if ORENCIA can harm your unborn baby.
	are breast-feeding. You will need to decide to either breast-feed or receive treatment with ORENCIA, but not both.
	take any other kinds of medicine, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
	are taking other biologic medicines to treat RA or JIA such as: Enbrel^® (etanercept), Humira^® (adalimumab), Remicade^® (infliximab), Kineret^® (anakinra) or Rituxan^® (rituximab). You may have a higher chance of getting a serious infection if you take ORENCIA with other biologic medicines.

Possible Side Effects of ORENCIA® (abatacept)

ORENCIA can cause serious side effects including:

	Serious infections. Patients receiving ORENCIA have a higher chance of getting infections including pneumonia, and other infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Call your doctor immediately if you feel sick or get any of the following signs of infection: fever, feel very tired, cough, feel flu-like, or warm, red or painful skin.
	Allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can happen on the day of treatment or the day after receiving ORENCIA. Tell your doctor or get emergency medical help right away if you have hives, swollen face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat or trouble breathing.
	Cancer (malignancies). Certain kinds of cancer have been reported in patients receiving ORENCIA. It is not known if ORENCIA increases your chance of getting certain kinds of cancer.
	Vaccinations. You should not receive ORENCIA with certain types of vaccines. ORENCIA may cause some vaccinations to be less effective.
	Respiratory problems in patients with COPD. You may get certain respiratory problems more often if you receive ORENCIA and have COPD, including: worsened COPD, pneumonia, cough, or trouble breathing.

The more common side effects with ORENCIA in both adults and children are headache, upper respiratory tract infection, sore throat, and nausea. Other side effects in children may include diarrhea, cough, fever, and abdominal pain.

Please read the Patient Information in the Full Prescribing Information.

© 2009 Bristol-Myers Squibb. All Rights Reserved.
ORENCIA is a registered trademark, and Oh, yes I can!, The Circle, The ORENCIA Promise Program, and the Satisfaction RAter are trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb.

427US07WA38036 Nov/09