Two medicines, side by side
Abatacept vs azithromycin
Abatacept is labeled for rheumatoid arthritis; azithromycin for bacterial infections. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of abatacept since 2005 and of azithromycin since 1991. Pharmacies paid $1,469.23 per mL (Orencia 125 mg/mL syringe) and $0.266 per azithromycin 250 mg tablet (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. Azithromycin's other strengths are brand-only: $98.51 per mL (Azasite 1% eye drops). In FDA's classes, abatacept is a selective t cell costimulation modulator and azithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the abatacept FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2025); the azithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 4, 2025).
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 azithromycin record
Azithromycin (Zithromax) · label of December 4, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAzithromycin tablets are macrolide antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the specific conditions listed below. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 1, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 55 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.266 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 11
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Abatacept label of November 13, 2025, Azithromycin label of December 4, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do abatacept and azithromycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, abatacept is a selective t cell costimulation modulator and azithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
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.”; Azithromycin, “Azithromycin is a macrolide antibacterial drug. [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]”
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 …”; Azithromycin, “Elimination Plasma concentrations of azithromycin following single 500 mg oral and IV doses declined in a polyphasic …”
Generics: abatacept none approved; azithromycin since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Abatacept | Azithromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Rheumatoid arthritis | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Selective T Cell Costimulation Modulator | Macrolide Antimicrobial |
| 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. | Azithromycin is a macrolide antibacterial drug. [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )] |
| 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. | Elimination Plasma concentrations of azithromycin following single 500 mg oral and IV doses declined in a polyphasic pattern resulting in a mean apparent plasma clearance of 630 mL/min and terminal elimination half-life … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 23, 2005 | November 1, 1991 |
| First generic approved | none | November 14, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 55 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1,469.23 per mL (Orencia 125 mg/mL syringe) | $0.266 per tablet (Azithromycin 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +2% | -26% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 137,678 | 59,712 |
| 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