Kevzara Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If you take Kevzara (sarilumab) for rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, or polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, you may be wondering whether your medication is caught up in a shortage—or whether supply problems could affect your next refill. Here's everything patients need to know about Kevzara availability in 2026.

Is Kevzara in a Drug Shortage Right Now?

As of 2026, Kevzara (sarilumab) is NOT listed on the FDA's official Drug Shortage Database. This means there is no verified, nationwide supply disruption for sarilumab at this time. Sanofi and Regeneron continue to manufacture and distribute Kevzara through their specialty pharmacy network.

However, "not in shortage" is not the same as "easy to get." Many Kevzara patients still experience significant delays getting their prescription filled. These access barriers are real—they're just different in nature from a true supply shortage.

A Brief History: The Tocilizumab Shortage and Its Impact on Sarilumab

To understand the Kevzara access landscape in 2026, it helps to know what happened to its closest competitor. Tocilizumab (Actemra)—which works by the same mechanism as Kevzara—was in a serious global shortage starting around 2021 and continuing into 2023. The shortage was driven by surge demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, when IL-6 inhibitors were used to treat cytokine storm in hospitalized patients.

During that shortage, many patients and physicians turned to Kevzara as an alternative. Sarilumab was never in a formal shortage itself—in fact, Sanofi temporarily halted enrollment of new RA patients in the KevzaraConnect copay program during 2022 due to supply strain from the influx of patients switching from tocilizumab, though manufacturing supply remained intact.

The tocilizumab shortage has largely resolved as of 2024-2025, with multiple biosimilars now available. This has reduced the pressure on Kevzara supply and allowed Sanofi to normalize its KevzaraConnect access programs.

Why Patients Still Have Trouble Accessing Kevzara in 2026

Even without a formal shortage, the most common reasons Kevzara patients face access problems include:

Prior authorization delays. Most insurance plans require PA before covering Kevzara, which can take 1–14 business days and sometimes longer if denied and appealed.

Specialty-only distribution. Kevzara is not available at retail pharmacies. Patients unfamiliar with specialty pharmacy logistics often experience delays navigating the system.

No biosimilar competition. Unlike tocilizumab, Kevzara has no biosimilar in the US as of 2026. The high list price (~$4,774–$5,555 per 2-syringe pack) creates affordability barriers for uninsured or underinsured patients.

Formulary restrictions and step therapy. Some insurers require patients to try and fail less expensive biologics (like adalimumab biosimilars) before approving Kevzara.

Individual specialty pharmacy stock levels. Specific specialty pharmacies may occasionally have processing backlogs or inventory gaps even when supply is nationally available.

How to Check If Kevzara Is Available at Your Pharmacy

Because Kevzara is only available through specialty pharmacies, checking inventory isn't as simple as looking it up online. medfinder is a service that calls specialty pharmacies and pharmacies near you to verify which ones can fill your Kevzara prescription. Provide your medication, dosage, and location—and medfinder does the calling. Results are texted back to you, helping you avoid the frustration of being bounced from pharmacy to pharmacy.

What to Do If You're Having Trouble Getting Your Kevzara

Contact KevzaraConnect (1-844-538-9272). Sanofi's support program offers prior authorization navigation, a free 30-day trial supply, and a patient assistance program for uninsured/underinsured patients.

Ask your rheumatologist's office to escalate the PA. If PA was submitted but you haven't heard back in 5+ business days, ask your rheumatologist's PA coordinator to follow up. An urgent PA can sometimes be processed in 24–48 hours.

Ask about bridge therapy. If your symptoms are worsening while you wait for Kevzara, ask your rheumatologist if a short-term corticosteroid or NSAID bridge is appropriate to manage pain and inflammation.

Use medfinder to identify a specialty pharmacy that can fill it. Sometimes switching to a different in-network specialty pharmacy can get your prescription filled faster.

The Bottom Line for Kevzara Patients in 2026

Kevzara is not in a formal shortage, but access barriers are real. The main obstacles are insurance-related (prior authorization, step therapy) and logistical (specialty-only distribution). Understanding these barriers—and using the right tools to navigate them—is key to keeping your treatment on track. For more detail on why access is complicated, see Why Is Kevzara So Hard to Find?.