When taking sarilumab, there is an increased risk of the development of serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions were neutropenia (7–10%), increased alanine aminotransferase levels (5%), injection-site erythema (4–5%), upper respiratory infections (3–4%) and urinary tract infections (3%). The manufacturer claims that the U.S. Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) of sarilumab is $39,000/year for the 200 mg and 150 mg doses, which is approximately 30% lower than the WAC price for the two most commonly used TNF-alpha inhibitors.
Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP, is a freelance medical writer based in New York City and a pharmacist at New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.
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