What is Acthar Gel and what is it used for?
A long-acting injectable ACTH approved in 1952 for infantile spasms and serious conditions — the only US ACTH drug for years, with many indications resting on limited evidence by modern standards, which became central to criticism of how expensively it came to be used.
Acthar Gel is a long-acting injectable form of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the body's adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids. It is approved for infantile spasms, a rare and serious seizure disorder in babies, and is also used as a drug of last resort for other serious medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis relapses, nephrotic syndrome and rheumatological disorders. For many years it was the only ACTH drug sold in the United States. Critically, the drug was not new: it was first introduced to market in 1952. Because it was approved under older standards, many of its approved indications rest on limited evidence by modern criteria, which is central to criticism of how widely and expensively it came to be used.