Two medicines, side by side
Adenosine vs benralizumab
Adenosine has no indication this site maps; benralizumab for asthma. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of adenosine since 1989 and of benralizumab since 2017. In FDA's classes, adenosine is an adenosine receptor agonist and benralizumab an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic antibody.
Check it at the source: the adenosine FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 14, 2025); the benralizumab FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 13, 2026).
Highlights of the adenosine record
Adenosine (Adenocard) · label of April 14, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAdenosine injection is indicated as an adjunct to thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients unable to exercise adequately. Adenosine injection, a pharmacologic stress agent, is indicated as an adjunct to thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in patients unable to exercise adequately
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1989
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the benralizumab record
Benralizumab (Fasenra) · label of May 13, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFASENRA is an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa) indicated for: • add-on maintenance treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with severe asthma, and with an eosinophilic phenotype. ( 1.1 ) • treatment of adult patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 14, 2017
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Adenosine label of April 14, 2025, Benralizumab label of May 13, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do adenosine and benralizumab differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, adenosine is an adenosine receptor agonist and benralizumab an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic antibody.
How each works, in its label's words: Adenosine, “Adenosine is thought to exert its pharmacological effects through activation of purine receptors (cell-surface A 1 and A 2 adenosine receptors).”; Benralizumab, “Benralizumab is a humanized afucosylated, monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa) that directly binds to the alpha subunit of the human interleukin-5 receptor (IL-5Rα) with a dissociation constant of 11 pM.”
Generics: adenosine since 2004; benralizumab none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Adenosine | Benralizumab | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | Asthma |
| Pharmacologic class | Adenosine Receptor Agonist | Interleukin-5 Receptor alpha-directed Cytolytic Antibody |
| How it works (label) | Adenosine causes cardiac vasodilation which increases cardiac blood flow. Adenosine is thought to exert its pharmacological effects through activation of purine receptors (cell-surface A 1 and A 2 adenosine receptors). | Benralizumab is a humanized afucosylated, monoclonal antibody (IgG1, kappa) that directly binds to the alpha subunit of the human interleukin-5 receptor (IL-5Rα) with a dissociation constant of 11 pM. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Absorption Following subcutaneous administration to patients with asthma, the absorption half-life was approximately 3.5 days. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 30, 1989 | November 14, 2017 |
| First generic approved | June 16, 2004 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | n/a |
| 12-month price change | n/a | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,600 | 19,893 |
| 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 adenosine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions