Abatacept
| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Orencia |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| MedlinePlus | a606016 |
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| Routes of administration | Intravenous, subcutaneous |
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Elimination half-life | 13.1 days |
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| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C3498H5458N922O1090S32 |
| Molar mass | 78895.43 g·mol−1 |
| (what is this?) (verify) | |
Abatacept, sold under the brand name Orencia, is a medication used to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, by interfering with the immune activity of T cells. It is a modified antibody.
Abatacept is a fusion protein composed of the Fc region of the immunoglobulin IgG1 fused to the extracellular domain of CTLA-4. In order for a T cell to be activated and produce an immune response, an antigen-presenting cell must present two signals to the T cell. One of those signals is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), combined with the antigen, and the other signal is the CD80 or CD86 molecule (also known as B7-1 and B7-2). Abatacept binds to the CD80 and CD86 molecule, and prevents the second signal. Without the second signal, the T cell can't be activated.
Abatacept was developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and is licensed in the United States for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the case of inadequate response to anti-TNFα therapy. Abatacept received approval from the FDA in 2005.