Gastroenterology

Although the use biosimilar infliximab in rheumatoid diseases and inflammatory bowel disease has the potential to reduce the treatment costs, a variety of factors may influence the adoption of biosimilar treatments and their potential impacts on healthcare budgets.

A recent Spanish study concludes that CT-P13, a biosimilar of reference infliximab that has been approved in Korea, the European Union, and the United States, is efficacious and well tolerated in patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).

The introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha agents has improved treatment options for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, these agents can also lead to increased vulnerability to infections, development of autoimmune diseases, malignancies, and decreased immunogenicity of vaccinations.

An analysis of 53 switching studies reveals a variable level of good-quality evidence regarding switching from reference drugs to their biosimilars.

Spherix Global Insights’ recently released survey of 103 US gastroenterologists reveals that practitioners project significant growth in the use vedolizumab, golimumab, and Pfizer’s Inflectra, an infliximab biosimilar, for the treatment of ulcerative colitis over the next 6 months.

A survey and drug utilization analysis conducted among UK healthcare professionals found that 75% of respondents were aware that biosimilars were available on their local formularies, and 77% considered biosimilars to be either extremely or very important to save costs for the National Health Service.

To date, only limited data have been available concerning long-term clinical outcomes of switching patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from reference infliximab (Remicade) to a biosimilar treatment. A new study concludes that a switch to CT-P13 from reference infliximab was both safe and feasible.