Zytiga (Abiraterone Acetate) Copay Assistance Program| QuickRX

Without insurance or copay assistance, Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) can be very expensive depending on your prescribed dose and pharmacy. Generic abiraterone is available and typically costs significantly less than brand Zytiga.

Factors That Affect Abiraterone Cost:

• Dose prescribed: Zytiga is available in 250 mg and 500 mg tablets; Yonsa (micronized formulation) is available in 125 mg tablets
• Brand vs. generic: Generic abiraterone acetate became available and typically costs much less than brand Zytiga
• Insurance coverage: Many plans cover abiraterone with varying copay amounts
• Pharmacy pricing: Prices vary between pharmacies

Contact QuickRx at (917) 830-2525 to explore copay assistance options that may help reduce your Zytiga costs.

Several copay assistance programs may help reduce Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) costs depending on your insurance status and financial situation.

Available Abiraterone Copay Assistance Options:

• Manufacturer copay cards: For commercially insured patients
• Patient assistance programs: For uninsured or underinsured patients meeting income requirements
• Independent foundation grants: Disease-specific financial support organizations
• State pharmaceutical assistance programs: Varies by state

QuickRx can help determine which programs you qualify for and assist with enrollment at no cost to you.

Medicare patients cannot use manufacturer copay cards due to federal regulations. However, other assistance options may be available.

Medicare Patient Options:

• Independent foundation grants: Some foundations provide assistance regardless of insurance type
• State pharmaceutical assistance programs: Many states offer additional help for Medicare patients
• Medicare Extra Help: Low-Income Subsidy program for prescription costs
• Generic abiraterone: Lower-cost alternative to brand Zytiga

QuickRx can help Medicare patients explore all available options for reducing abiraterone costs. Call (800) 496-6111 to speak with a patient navigator.

No, QuickRx provides completely FREE copay assistance services for all patients. Our patient navigators help you find and enroll in abiraterone copay assistance programs at no charge.

What QuickRx Does For Free:

• Reviews your insurance coverage and identifies available programs
• Completes copay card and patient assistance applications
• Coordinates with your healthcare provider for required documentation
• Manages ongoing renewals and insurance changes
• Provides continuous support throughout your treatment

Our goal is to help you access the Zytiga or generic abiraterone you need at the lowest possible cost.

Zytiga, Yonsa, and generic abiraterone all contain the same active ingredient (abiraterone acetate) but have different formulations.

Key Differences:

• Zytiga: Brand name conventional formulation; available in 250 mg and 500 mg tablets; must be taken on an empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after food)
• Yonsa: Brand name micronized (fine particle) formulation; available in 125 mg tablets; can be taken with or without food; different dosing than Zytiga
• Generic abiraterone: Same as Zytiga formulation; available from multiple manufacturers; typically costs significantly less than brand versions

Important: The formulations are NOT interchangeable. Do not substitute between Zytiga, Yonsa, and generic abiraterone without consulting your healthcare provider.

Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) is an antiandrogen medication used to treat prostate cancer. It works by blocking CYP17, an enzyme required for androgen (male hormone) production in the body.

About Abiraterone:

• Drug class: Antiandrogen, Antineoplastic Agent
• Mechanism: Selectively and irreversibly inhibits CYP17 (17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase), blocking testosterone precursor formation
• FDA approved: April 28, 2011
• Available forms: Zytiga (250 mg, 500 mg tablets), Yonsa (125 mg micronized tablets), generic abiraterone (250 mg, 500 mg tablets)

Abiraterone is always taken in combination with a corticosteroid (prednisone or methylprednisolone) and is used alongside other prostate cancer treatments.

Abiraterone acetate is FDA-approved for treating metastatic prostate cancer.

FDA-Approved Indications:

• Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC): In combination with prednisone (Zytiga) or methylprednisolone (Yonsa)
• Metastatic high-risk castration-sensitive prostate cancer: In combination with prednisone (Zytiga)

Patients receiving abiraterone should also receive a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog concurrently or have had a bilateral orchiectomy.

The standard dose depends on which formulation is prescribed.

Dosing by Formulation:

• Zytiga (conventional tablets): 1,000 mg once daily (in combination with prednisone 5 mg twice daily for mCRPC or once daily for mCSPC)
• Yonsa (micronized formulation): 500 mg once daily (in combination with methylprednisolone 4 mg twice daily)

Important Administration Notes:

• Zytiga: Must be taken on an empty stomach—at least 1 hour before and 2 hours after food
• Yonsa: May be taken with or without food
• Tablets should be swallowed whole with water; do not crush or chew

Your doctor determines the appropriate dose based on your condition and other factors. Dose adjustments may be needed for liver impairment.

Like all medications, abiraterone can cause side effects. Common side effects include fatigue, joint pain, swelling, and hot flashes.

Most Common Side Effects (occurring in more than 10% of patients):

• Cardiovascular: Edema/swelling (25-27%), hypertension (9-37%)
• Endocrine/metabolic: Hot flashes (15-22%), low potassium
• Gastrointestinal: Constipation (23%), diarrhea (18-22%)
• General: Fatigue (39%), insomnia (14%)
• Musculoskeletal: Joint pain, joint swelling, muscle pain
• Respiratory: Cough (7-17%), shortness of breath (12%)

Tell your doctor about any side effects you experience. Some side effects may require monitoring or dose adjustment.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any serious side effects.

Serious Side Effects Requiring Medical Attention:

• Liver problems: Dark urine, feeling tired, lack of appetite, stomach pain, light-colored stools, vomiting, yellowing of skin or eyes
• Heart problems: Abnormal heartbeat, swelling, weight gain, trouble breathing
• High blood pressure: Very bad headache, dizziness, passing out, vision changes
• Low potassium: Mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, abnormal heartbeat, seizures
• Adrenal insufficiency: Severe upset stomach or vomiting, dizziness, muscle weakness, feeling very tired, mood changes, weight loss
• Urinary tract infection: Blood in urine, burning or pain when urinating, fever, lower stomach pain
• Allergic reactions: Rash, hives, itching, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing

Severe hepatotoxicity (liver damage), including acute liver failure and death, has been reported rarely.

Certain patients should not take abiraterone or should use caution.

Use Caution or Avoid If You Have:

• Severe liver impairment: Abiraterone is not recommended for patients with severe liver problems (Child-Turcotte-Pugh class C)
• Cardiovascular disease: Monitor closely if you have heart failure, recent heart attack, or arrhythmias; patients with LVEF less than 50% or NYHA class II-IV heart failure were excluded from clinical trials
• Diabetes: Severe hypoglycemia has been reported, especially with certain diabetes medications

Pregnancy Considerations:

• Abiraterone is not indicated for use in females
• Patients with partners who could become pregnant should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 weeks after the last dose
• Pregnant individuals should wear gloves if handling uncoated tablets, micronized tablets, or damaged tablets

Abiraterone interacts with many medications. Always tell your doctor about all medications you take.

Important Drug Interactions:

• Strong CYP3A4 inducers: May decrease abiraterone levels; avoid coadministration or increase abiraterone frequency (examples: rifampin, phenytoin, carbamazepine)
• CYP2D6 substrates: Abiraterone may increase levels of these medications (examples: metoprolol, dextromethorphan)
• Radium Ra 223: Combination with abiraterone plus corticosteroid is NOT recommended due to increased risk of fractures and death
• Spironolactone: May decrease therapeutic effects of abiraterone; consider alternatives
• Thiazolidinediones (pioglitazone) or repaglinide: May increase risk of severe hypoglycemia

Your healthcare provider should review all your medications before starting abiraterone.

Food requirements depend on which abiraterone formulation you take.

Zytiga (Conventional Formulation):

• Must be taken on an empty stomach
• Take at least 1 hour before food
• Wait at least 2 hours after food before taking
• Taking with food can increase drug levels up to 10-fold, potentially causing more side effects

Yonsa (Micronized Formulation):

• May be taken with or without food
• Taking with food increases levels up to 4-fold, but this is accounted for in the dosing

Swallow tablets whole with water. Do not crush or chew tablets.

Regular monitoring is essential during abiraterone treatment.

Required Monitoring:

• Liver function tests (ALT, AST, bilirubin): Before treatment, every 2 weeks for first 3 months, then monthly
• Potassium levels: Before treatment and at least monthly
• Blood pressure: Before treatment and at least monthly
• Blood sugar: In patients with diabetes, during and after stopping treatment
• Fluid retention: Monitor for swelling, weight gain

If you have moderate liver impairment at baseline, more frequent monitoring (weekly for the first month) may be required.

Abiraterone is always taken with a corticosteroid to reduce the incidence and severity of certain side effects.

Reasons for Corticosteroid Co-administration:

• Reduces mineralocorticoid excess: Abiraterone blocks CYP17, which can lead to increased mineralocorticoids causing hypertension, low potassium, and fluid retention
• The corticosteroid helps prevent or reduce these effects

Typical Corticosteroid Dosing:

• With Zytiga for mCRPC: Prednisone 5 mg twice daily
• With Zytiga for mCSPC: Prednisone 5 mg once daily
• With Yonsa: Methylprednisolone 4 mg twice daily

Do not stop taking your corticosteroid without talking to your doctor, as this could lead to adrenal insufficiency.

Treatment duration depends on your response to therapy and tolerance of side effects.

General Treatment Approach:

• Abiraterone is typically continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity
• Your oncologist will monitor your response through PSA levels, imaging, and symptom assessment
• Treatment may be adjusted or discontinued based on your individual response

Continue taking abiraterone exactly as prescribed. Do not stop or change your dose without consulting your healthcare provider. If you have concerns about your treatment duration, discuss them with your oncology team.

Questions about your Zytiga copay assistance? Contact QuickRx at (917) 830-2525 or (800) 496-6111.