May 18th 2024
A real-world study in Spain on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients found no meaningful changes in clinical or biochemical markers or differences in effectiveness between the adalimumab originator and the biosimilar MSB11022 (Idacio; Fresenius Kabi) in adalimumab-naïve patients.
Th9 Cells May Play a Role in Immunogenicity of Reference Infliximab
October 16th 2017A newly published study found that the prevalence of T helper (Th) lymphocytes, specifically Th9 cells, is higher in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, and that these cells may also be involved in immune responses against reference infliximab.
Biosimilars Face Challenges From Providers, Patients, and Policies
October 13th 2017In recent paper published in Rheumatology, authors Till Uhlig, MD, and Guro L. Goll, PhD explore some of the remaining barriers to the adoption of biosimilar therapies in Europe. Physician attitudes, patient concerns, and prescribing restrictions on biologic therapies are all identified in the paper as having a role curbing uptake of biosimilars.
Radiographic Progression Comparable in Patients Receiving Etanercept, Biosimilar
October 5th 2017A phase 3 study comparing Samsung Bioepis’ etanercept biosimilar, SB4, to its reference found that SB4 had comparable efficacy—including radiographic progression—to week 52 of treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Biosimilar Infliximab Effective Against Mycobacterial IRIS in Patients With HIV
October 3rd 2017While tumor necrosis factor (TNF) deficiency is associated with a higher incidence of tuberculosis, excessive production of TNF is associated with an exaggerated inflammatory response that can result in mycobacterial immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).
Biosimilar as Effective as Originator G-CSFs in Mobilizing Hematopoietic Stem Cells
September 29th 2017The standard way to conduct mobilization in hematopoietic stem cell donors relies on using 2 original granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs), filgrastim (Neupogen) and lenograstim (Granocyte).
Canadian Study Finds High Adherence to Anti-TNF Agents in Inflammatory Diseases
September 26th 2017A large Canadian study of patients with inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, reports that a high overall rate of adherence to subcutaneous anti-TNFs.
Global Experts Provide Consensus-Based Recommendations for Rheumatology Biosimilars
September 18th 2017In an effort to provide a guide for clinicians and a framework for future educational efforts, an international panel of healthcare stakeholders convened to arrive at consensus recommendations for the use of biosimilars to treat rheumatological diseases.
Biosimilars Can Generate Savings, Expand Access
September 14th 2017According to a new study, potential savings realized from transitioning to treatment with biosimilar filgrastim-sndz from reference filgrastim are not only significant, but these savings can also be applied to expand access to novel immunotherapies or supportive care.
Research Highlights Filgrastim and Pegfilgrastim Biosimilars
September 11th 2017Three posters presented on September 10, 2017, at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 meeting in Madrid, Spain, covered research on 2 proposed pegfilgrastim biosimilars and evaluated the use of filgrastim in oncology practice.
Could Biosimilar Suffixes Stand in the Way of Pharmacovigilance?
September 6th 2017The FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System, which allows healthcare professionals, patients, and others to submit reports on adverse events, contains over 8.5 million entries, a massive number complicated by the fact that any drug may be listed under an average of 16 different names.
When Will Patients Benefit From Deepening Infliximab Discounts?
September 6th 2017Seth D. Ginsberg, co-founder of Global Healthy Living Foundation, told The Center for Biosimilars®, “Currently the benefit of rebating and pricing of all infused drugs goes to the payers, health systems, hospitals and physicians, not the patients. Until patients participate in such savings, infused drug pricing has nothing to do with them.”
REDO Trial Will Help Answer Questions About Ultra-Low-Dose Rituximab Therapy
September 5th 2017Several small studies have suggested that ultra–low-dose treatment with rituximab leads to good treatment responses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with standard low-dose schedules of rituximab.
Baricitinib Outperforms Adalimumab in PROs in Phase 3 Study
September 5th 2017Newly published results of a phase 3 study of baricitinib, a once-daily oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), show that the small-molecule drug provided greater improvements in patient-reported outcomes than either placebo or the biologic adalimumab (Humira).
Some Psoriasis Patients Treated with Above-Label Use of Biologics, Leading to Higher Costs
August 30th 2017A retrospective study using a large US claims database of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis suggests that extensive above-label use of etanercept, adalimumab, and ustekinumab occurs in many patients who take these biologics, and leads to higher costs.