Practice

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who underwent a switch from reference infliximab to a biosimilar and then back to the originator were more likely to discontinue their treatment than patients who underwent a single switch from the originator to a biosimilar.

A study evaluating the real-world impact of treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with an adalimumab biosimilar found that providing patient questionnaires early can be useful for identifying those at a higher risk of treatment discontinuation.

Growing use of innovator biologics, including those with biosimilar competition, has led to increased Medicare Part B drug expenditures, with the trend unlikely to stop.

An FDA workshop featuring regulators from around the world provided the regulatory perspective on how each government determines whether a biosimilar is clinically equivalent to their reference product, highlighting the science behind their development guidelines.

A report from the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) highlighted the value of biosimilars and generics, revealing that lower-cost versions of originator products accumulated $408 billion for the US health care system in 2022.

Perhaps the most significant development in the pharmaceutical industry in decades, crops of biosimilars are being approved and are ready for distribution. What lies next, in terms of legislation and the impact on pharmacists, remains to be seen.

Switching from reference to biosimilar adalimumab was found to be safe and effective. Researchers cautioned that female patients may be at higher risk of discontinuation compared with their male counterparts.

Single switching between approved biologics and biosimilars of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) were found to be safe and effective for rheumatoid arthritis.

Pharmacists will have the opportunity to use their knowledge of biosimilars to reinforce their benefits, safety, and efficacy.

A meta-analysis and systematic review of data on over 10,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found that etanercept, adalimumab, and infliximab biosimilars were clinically equivalent to their reference products.

Dan Danielson, RPh, MS, senior director, market access solutions, at PrecisionValue, a market access marketing firm, explains the remaining issues at play slowing down biosimilar uptake in the United States.

Ranibizumab biosimilar was found to be the most cost-effective for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), according to a recent Japanese study.

Robert Zutaut, RPh, a clinical specialist from McKesson Provider Solutions, quantifies the major barriers to adoption for biosimilars used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and some major considerations for health systems looking to address them.

Study finds patients with cancer feel reassured that biosimilars provide a safe, adequate, and cost-effective alternative to the pricier reference drug.

The Spanish Psoriasis Working Group updated its position on the use of biosimilar medicines in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, including its views on biosimilars as first-line treatment and nonmedical switching.

A Chinese study proved that combination therapy with sintilimab and a bevacizumab biosimilar was cost-effective enough in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to warrant use of the biosimilar over the reference product (Avastin) without compromising safety or efficacy.

Formycon and Celltrion announced the FDA submissions for their aflibercept biosimilars; the European Medicines Agency accepted a marketing authorization application for an ustekinumab biosimilar; and Roche filed suit against Biogen over a tocilizumab biosimilar.

The Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) published a white paper on the impact that ongoing drug shortages have had on the generic and biosimilar industries as well as possible solutions stakeholders can put into action.

Four pharmacists offer advice for clinics on how to prepare for new self-administered biosimilar products, including adalimumab biosimilars, and overcome emerging administrative challenges.

The Center for Biosimilars® provides an updated look on the adalimumab biosimilars that are coming down the US pipeline as well as what stakeholders need to know and how they can prepare ahead of the US launch of 8 adalimumab biosimilars in July 2023.

The Act4Biosimilars Action Plan seeks to increase biosimilar adoption by at least 30 percentage points in 30-plus countries by 2030.

Researchers of a retrospective cohort study found that a rituximab biosimilar, BCD-020, was safe and effective in pediatric patients with lupus nephritis.

Implementing strategies, such as dose rounding, can offset the impact of drug waste and reduce the total cost of care for value-based programs, according to a recent study of practices participating in the Oncology Care Model.

After 8 years of trastuzumab biosimilar competition and slow uptake, a new report shows that trastuzumab biosimilar discounts from the reference product (Herceptin) doubled between 2019 and 2022.

A survey of patients with rheumatoid arthritis found that those who had switched to an adalimumab biosimilar reported higher disease severity, poorer treatment adherence, and poorer quality of life compared with patients who stayed on the reference product, highlighting the dangers of the nocebo effect.

In light of 2 blockbuster originators, namely Humira (adalimumab) and Stelara (ustekinumab), losing market exclusivity in 2023, 3 doctors penned supplement in The American Journal of Managed Care®. On this episode, Vibeke Strand, MD, one of the co-authors, explored how health systems can take charge and boost biosimilar adoption.

The 2023 Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit featured Juliana (Julie) Reed, executive director of the Biosimilars Forum, who spoke on the challenges still facing the biosimilars industry and how they may impact the success of adalimumab biosimilars in the United States.

Colby Evans, MD, a dermatologist and co-author of an American Journal of Managed Care® supplement “Biosimilars for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: 2022 Update" shares the managed care perspective on using biosimilars to treat inflammatory conditions.

In a study including 2 years of real-world evidence (RWE), patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were switched from originator rituximab (Rituxan) to GP2013, a rituximab biosimilar, experienced positive results and maintained clinical outcomes.

The authors of what they say is the largest and longest follow-up study comparing the trastuzumab biosimilar SB3 to the reference product (Herceptin) in HER2-positive breast cancer found “no clinically meaningful difference” between the biosimilar and the reference product.