Two medicines, side by side
Abatacept vs fentanyl
Abatacept is labeled for rheumatoid arthritis; fentanyl for pain. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of abatacept since 2005 and of fentanyl since 1968. Pharmacies paid $1,469.23 per mL (Orencia 125 mg/mL syringe) and $1.79 per mL (Fentanyl 100 mcg/2 mL vial) (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 fentanyl an opioid agonist.
Check it at the source: the abatacept FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2025); the fentanyl FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 6, 2026).
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 fentanyl record
Fentanyl (Sublimaze) · label of March 6, 2026
SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF FENTANYL CITRATE INJECTION Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of Fentanyl Citrate Injection exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsFentanyl Citrate Injection is indicated for: analgesic action of short duration during the anesthetic periods, premedication, induction and maintenance, and in the immediate postoperative period (recovery room) as the need arises. use as a narcotic analgesic supplement in general or regional anesthesia. administration with a neuroleptic as an anesthetic premedication, for the induction of anesthesia and as an […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 19, 1968
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.79 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 111
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Abatacept label of November 13, 2025, Fentanyl label of March 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do abatacept and fentanyl differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, abatacept is a selective t cell costimulation modulator and fentanyl an opioid agonist.
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.”; Fentanyl, “Fentanyl Citrate Injection is an opioid agonist, whose principal actions of therapeutic value are analgesia and sedation.”
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 …”; Fentanyl, “Elimination The terminal elimination half-life is 219 minutes.”
Only the fentanyl label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: abatacept none approved; fentanyl since 1990 (Drugs@FDA).
DEA schedule: abatacept none; fentanyl CII.
| Abatacept | Fentanyl | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Rheumatoid arthritis | Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Selective T Cell Costimulation Modulator | Opioid Agonist |
| 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. | Fentanyl Citrate Injection is an opioid agonist, whose principal actions of therapeutic value are analgesia and sedation. |
| 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 The terminal elimination half-life is 219 minutes. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 23, 2005 | February 19, 1968 |
| First generic approved | none | April 30, 1990 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | 6 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1,469.23 per mL (Orencia 125 mg/mL syringe) | $1.79 per mL (Fentanyl 100 mcg/2 mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | +2% | +76% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 111 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 137,678 | 114,879 |
| DEA schedule | none | CII |
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 do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Fentanyl label, warnings and precautionsProfound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death may result from the concomitant use of Fentanyl Citrate Injection with benzodiazepines and/or other CNS depressants, including alcohol (e.g., non-benzodiazepine sedatives/hypnotics, anxiolytics, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, general anesthetics, antipsychotics, gabapentinoids [gabapentin or pregabalin], and other opioids).
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to abatacept
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions