What is Benepali?

What is Benepali?

Benepali is an anti-inflammatory medicine. It is used for the treatment of the following diseases: moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (an immune-system disease causing inflammation of the joints) in adults (aged 18 years or over).

Is Benepali the same as Enbrel?

Benepali contains the active substance etanercept and is a 'biosimilar medicine'. This means that Benepali is highly similar to a biological medicine (also known as the 'reference medicine') that is already authorised in the European Union (EU). The reference medicine for Benepali is Enbrel.

What are the side effects of Benepali injections?

The most common side effects with Benepali are injection-site reactions (including bleeding, redness, itching, pain and swelling) and infections (including colds, and lung, bladder and skin infections). Patients developing a serious infection should stop Benepali treatment.

How long do you take Benepali for?

Treatment with Benepali should continue until remission is achieved, for up to 24 weeks. Continuous therapy beyond 24 weeks may be appropriate for some adult patients (see section 5.1). Treatment should be discontinued in patients who show no response after 12 weeks.

What is Benepali made from?

Benepali is a medicine that is made from two human proteins. It blocks the activity of another protein in the body that causes inflammation.

Does Enbrel work immediately?

Some people taking ENBREL start to feel less pain, stiffness, and swelling after just 2 weeks. Most people finding relief saw results within 3 months, and some saw further improvements at 6 months. While some patients may see results in as soon as 1-2 weeks, for others it may take longer for ENBREL to work for them.

How much does Benepali cost UK?

Benepali 50mg/1ml solution for injection pre-filled pens (Biogen Idec Ltd)

Active ingredients	Size	Drug tariff price
Etanercept 50 mg per 1 ml	4	£715.00

What is the cost of Benepali?

Benepali 50mg/1ml solution for injection pre-filled syringes (Biogen Idec Ltd)

Active ingredients	Size	NHS indicative price
Etanercept 50 mg per 1 ml	4	£656.00 (Hospital only)

Where is the best place to inject Benepali?

The Benepali®pen is for injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). It should be injected into the thigh, abdomen (at least 5 cm away from the belly button), or back of the upper arm.

How much do Benepali injections cost?

Benepali 50mg/1ml solution for injection pre-filled syringes (Biogen Idec Ltd)

Active ingredients	Size	NHS indicative price
Etanercept 50 mg per 1 ml	4	£656.00 (Hospital only)

What is Benepali used to treat?

• Benepali is also indicated in the treatment of severe, active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis in adults not previously treated with methotrexate. Benepali, alone or in combination with methotrexate, has been shown to reduce the rate of progression of joint damage as measured by X-ray and to improve physical function.

Is Benepali legal in the EU?

• Benepali contains the active substance etanercept and is a ‘biosimilar medicine’. This means that Benepali is highly similar to a biological medicine (also known as the ‘reference medicine’) that is already authorised in the European Union (EU).

What is the difference between Enbrel and Benepali?

• Etanercept bio-similar. Etanercept was originally available only under the brand name Enbrel. More recently, a new version of etanercept with the brand name Benepali has become available. This new drug is referred to as a 'bio-similar' because it's meant to act in the same way as the original drug.

What are the restrictions of benbenepali?

• Benepali must not be used in patients who have or are at risk of sepsis (when bacteria and toxins circulate in the blood and start to damage the organs), or in patients with infections. For the full list of restrictions, see the package leaflet.