Two medicines, side by side
Tocilizumab vs adalimumab
Tocilizumab and adalimumab are both labeled for rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of tocilizumab since 2010 and of adalimumab since 2002. Pharmacies paid $821.00 per mL (Tyenne 162 mg/0.9 mL autoinjct) and $1,587.82 per mL (Adalimumab-adaz(cf) pen 40 mg/0.4 mL) (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, tocilizumab is an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist and adalimumab a tumor necrosis factor blocker.
Check it at the source: the tocilizumab FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 16, 2025); the adalimumab FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 21, 2025).
Highlights of the tocilizumab record
Tocilizumab (Actemra) · label of December 16, 2025
RISK OF SERIOUS INFECTIONS Patients treated with ACTEMRA are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1), Adverse Reactions (6.1) ]. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids. If a serious infection develops, interrupt ACTEMRA until the infection is controlled.
Used for
From the label: indicationsACTEMRA ® (tocilizumab) is an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist indicated for treatment of: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) ( 1.1 ) Adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) ( 1.2 ) Adult patients with giant cell arteritis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 8, 2010
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $821.00 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the adalimumab record
Adalimumab (Humira) · label of October 21, 2025
SERIOUS INFECTIONS and MALIGNANCY SERIOUS INFECTIONS Patients treated with adalimumab products, including Adalimumab-adaz, are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids. Discontinue Adalimumab-adaz if a patient develops a serious infection or sepsis.
Used for
From the label: indicationsAdalimumab-adaz is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-blocker indicated for: • Reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 31, 2002
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $1,587.82 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Tocilizumab label of December 16, 2025, Adalimumab label of October 21, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do tocilizumab and adalimumab differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, tocilizumab is an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist and adalimumab a tumor necrosis factor blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Tocilizumab, “Tocilizumab binds to both soluble and membrane-bound IL-6 receptors (sIL-6R and mIL-6R), and has been shown to inhibit IL-6-mediated signaling through these receptors.”; Adalimumab, “Adalimumab products bind specifically to TNF-alpha and block its interaction with the p55 and p75 cell surface TNF receptors.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Tocilizumab, “At high serum concentrations, when total clearance of tocilizumab is dominated by linear clearance, a terminal …”; Adalimumab, “The mean terminal half-life was approximately 2 weeks, ranging from 10 to 20 days across studies.”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
| Tocilizumab | Adalimumab | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Rheumatoid arthritis, COVID-19 | Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Psoriasis |
| Pharmacologic class | Interleukin-6 Receptor Antagonist | Tumor Necrosis Factor Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Tocilizumab binds to both soluble and membrane-bound IL-6 receptors (sIL-6R and mIL-6R), and has been shown to inhibit IL-6-mediated signaling through these receptors. | Adalimumab products bind specifically to TNF-alpha and block its interaction with the p55 and p75 cell surface TNF receptors. Adalimumab products also lyse surface TNF expressing cells in vitro in the presence of complement. |
| Half-life (label) | At high serum concentrations, when total clearance of tocilizumab is dominated by linear clearance, a terminal half-life of approximately 21.5 days was derived from the population parameter estimates. | The mean terminal half-life was approximately 2 weeks, ranging from 10 to 20 days across studies. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 8, 2010 | December 31, 2002 |
| First generic approved | none | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $821.00 per mL (Tyenne 162 mg/0.9 mL autoinjct) | $1,587.82 per mL (Adalimumab-adaz(cf) pen 40 mg/0.4 mL) |
| 12-month price change | +0.2% | -0.3% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 113,819 | 712,308 |
| 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 tocilizumab
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions