Practice

A recently published systematic literature review sought to compare the effects of down-titration of biologics compared with standard dosing on clinical efficacy and health-related quality of life, and to evaluate the impact of decreased doses on the cost of RA treatment.

The Center for Biosimilars recaps the top 5 articles for the week of December 4.

Advances in research have led to increased therapeutic options for patients with cancer, but these drugs come at a substantial cost; high out-of-pocket costs pose a significant barrier to treatment initiation for patients with cancer, according to a new, retrospective claims-based study.

No differences in drug levels or disease activity were found when adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were switched from originator infliximab (Remicade) to a biosimilar infliximab (Inflectra) as part of routine care, according to the results of a Dutch study.

A newly published study finds that subcutaneous administration of trastuzumab produces substantial time savings for healthcare providers and patients, as well as reduced costs.

Novo Nordisk has announced new data on its development of a next-generation insulin that could help the company stave off biosimilar and follow-on insulin competition. Meanwhile, Sanofi announced that its own insulin met its main objective in a head-to-head study versus Novo Nordisk’s product.

Patients can be switched from reference rituximab (MabThera) to biosimilar rituximab (Truxima) without reverting to slower infusion rates, according to a new study.

At the American Society of Hematology’s 59th Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, Sanjeeev Balu, PhD, will present results of a study that examines expanded access to the drug obinutuzumab (Gazyva) made possible on a budget-neutral basis through savings obtained from using biosimilar filgrastim-sndz (Zarxio).

On Saturday, December 9, at the American Society of Hematology’s 59th Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, Scott Huntington, MD, MPH, will present his research team’s findings that the receipt of lymphoma care in the community-based setting is associated with guideline-discordant use of rituximab.

The Center for Biosimilars recaps the top 5 articles for the week of November 27.

November saw a number of developments related to biosimilar therapies for rheumatologic indications, with new data published, policies adapted, and devices launched.

A recent study was conducted to determine whether the concurrent use of denosumab with a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD), such as adalimuab, etanercept, or infliximab, increases the risk of infection.

Biologics are increasingly used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but real-world data quantifying the costs of these therapies have been lacking. A new study, published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, sought to determine trends in costs and relative market share of IBD therapies in the United States over the past 9 years.

Janssen-Cilag International’s biologic drug guselkumab (Tremfya) has received approval from the European Commission (EC) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy.

Trastuzumab has been used to manage both early and metastatic HER2-postive breast cancer and has significantly improved the survival of these patients and become the standard of care, according to Arlene Chan, MB BS, FRACP, MMed, writing in Chinese Clinical Oncology.

A recent case report, published in the European Journal of Rheumatology, showed that switching to biosimilar infliximab resulted in a rapid loss of efficacy in 3 patients with Behçet’s disease (BD), a chronic, relapsing, systemic vasculitis.

In an effort to better address the needs of patients taking reference etanercept (Enbrel), Amgen has launched an ergonomically designed cartridge with a reusable auto-injector in the United States as an additional administration option.

The Center for Biosimilars® recaps the top 5 stories in biosimilars news for the week of November 13.

Australian researchers Kellie A. Mouchemore, PhD, and colleagues urge caution in the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in neutrophil recovery following chemotherapy for breast cancer because there is increasing evidence that G-CSF can promote metastasis.

At a Wednesday session of the SMi Biosimilars North America conference, Chrys Kokino, MBA, head of Mylan’s global biologics commercial division, said that biosimilars can be part of improving access to and affordability of biologic therapies for patients worldwide, but also highlighted the hurdles that biosimilar developers will have to overcome as they seek to gain a foothold in the US marketplace.

Theradiag, a French company that specializes in in vitro diagnostics and theranostics, has entered into a partnership agreement with Biogen to provide its Lisa Tracker kits to monitor patients treated with Biogen’s infliximab biosimilar Flixabi, which was approved in Europe in 2016.

The ability to identify factors that predict efficacy of anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents is crucial if clinicians are to optimize treatment and minimize side effects and costs.

A recent survey of US rheumatologists found that there is room for improvement in clinicians' awareness of biosimilar therapies.

“If the patient doesn’t have better access, you don’t need a biosimilar," argues Roy Fleischmann, MD.

Today, 4 presentations at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, covered research on switching studies concerning etanercept and infliximab biosimilars.

In a presentation titled “Biosimilar Medicine: Changing Landscape in Health Care,” given on Monday at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, J. Eugene Huffstutter MD, FACP, FACR, shared practical considerations for using biosimilars in the rheumatology clinic.

Two posters presented today at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2017 meeting in San Diego, California, highlight the gaps in US rheumatologists’ knowledge concerning biosimilar therapies, and underscore the importance of greater physician education about biosimilar medicines.

In the evolving world of biologic therapies, a class of follow-on biologics—so-called "biobetters"—is emerging as a new category of products.

The Center for Biosimilars® recaps the top 5 stories in biosimilars news for the week of October 30.

More than 90% of Americans believe that the cost burden of cancer is too high, according to a large, nationally representative survey conducted for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).