Two medicines, side by side
Abatacept vs adapalene
Abatacept is labeled for rheumatoid arthritis; adapalene for acne. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of abatacept since 2005 and of adapalene since 1996. Pharmacies paid $1,469.23 per mL (Orencia 125 mg/mL syringe) and $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ and one is a brand and one a generic, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, abatacept is a selective t cell costimulation modulator and adapalene a retinoid.
Check it at the source: the abatacept FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2025); the adapalene FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 27, 2023).
Highlights of the abatacept record
Abatacept (Orencia) · label of November 13, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsORENCIA is a selective T cell costimulation modulator indicated for: • the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). (1.1) • the treatment of patients 2 years of age and older with moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). (1.2) • the treatment of patients 2 years of age and older with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 23, 2005
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $1,469.23 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the adapalene record
Adapalene (Differin) · label of December 27, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsDIFFERIN Gel is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. DIFFERIN Gel, 0.3%, is a retinoid, indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 31, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.504 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Abatacept label of November 13, 2025, Adapalene label of December 27, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do abatacept and adapalene differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, abatacept is a selective t cell costimulation modulator and adapalene a retinoid.
How each works, in its label's words: Abatacept, “Abatacept, a selective costimulation modulator, inhibits T-cell (T lymphocyte) activation by binding to CD80 and CD86, thereby blocking interaction with CD28.”; Adapalene, “Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Abatacept, “Mean estimates for systemic clearance (0.28 mL/h/kg), volume of distribution (0.11 L/kg), and terminal half-life (14.3 …”; Adapalene, “The terminal apparent half-life, determined in 15 of 16 subjects, ranged from 7 to 51 hours, with a mean of 17.2 ± 10.2 …”
Generics: abatacept none approved; adapalene since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Abatacept | Adapalene | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Rheumatoid arthritis | Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Selective T Cell Costimulation Modulator | Retinoid |
| How it works (label) | Abatacept, a selective costimulation modulator, inhibits T-cell (T lymphocyte) activation by binding to CD80 and CD86, thereby blocking interaction with CD28. | Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein. |
| Half-life (label) | Mean estimates for systemic clearance (0.28 mL/h/kg), volume of distribution (0.11 L/kg), and terminal half-life (14.3 days) were comparable between subcutaneous and intravenous administration. | The terminal apparent half-life, determined in 15 of 16 subjects, ranged from 7 to 51 hours, with a mean of 17.2 ± 10.2 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 23, 2005 | May 31, 1996 |
| First generic approved | none | June 2, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 33 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1,469.23 per mL (Orencia 125 mg/mL syringe) | $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) |
| 12-month price change | +2% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 137,678 | 181,062 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to abatacept
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions