Rheumatology

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have similar positive attitudes towards biologics and both trust their specialists’ recommendations, according to a recent survey conducted in Australia.

In Cardinal Health’s 2023 Biosimilars Report, more than 60% of surveyed providers said they would only want to prescribe adalimumab biosimilars with interchangeability designations, suggesting the label may have a greater impact on uptake than originally expected.

Fresenius Kabi announced a global partnership with Formycon for an ustekinumab biosimilar; Similis Bio partners with Novel351K to co-develop 3 biosimilars; and Celltrion Healthcare launched its bevacizumab biosimilar in Japan.

An analysis of US claims data found that prevalent (as of 2017) users of the infliximab reference product (Remicade) had the highest adherence rates compared to naïve originator users, prevalent biosimilar users, and naïve biosimilar users over 18 months of follow-up.

Sonia T. Oskouei, PharmD, vice president of biosimilars and specialty at Sandoz, foreshadows how the US market introduction of adalimumab biosimilars could influence future biosimilar entrances and discusses why educational efforts need to be tailored to different specialties and stakeholders.

The first phase 4 postmarketing surveillance study for SB4 in South Korea as the first approved biosimilar of etanercept demonstrated comparable effectiveness and safety to previous SB4 evidence.

Formycon shared positive data on its Eylea (aflibercept) biosimilar; Sandoz received a thumbs up from the European Union’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP); and Shanghai Henlius Biotech began a phase 1 study for its daratumumab biosimilar candidate.

Vizient’s Pharmacy Market Outlook report examined the impact that factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the US market introduction of adalimumab biosimilars, will have on drug prices and the utilization of lower-cost biologics.

On this episode of Not So Different, we reminisce about the major biosimilar news to come out of the rheumatology field during January 2023, including the launch of the first Humira (adalimumab) biosimilar.

A real-world study assessing the aftermath of Denmark implementing a nationwide mandatory switch from one infliximab to another found strong treatment retention rates, demonstrating the safety and tolerability of biosimilar-to-biosimilar switching.

This year started off with a bang for rheumatology biosimilars, with several regulatory approvals around the world, new market insight into the global use of biosimilars, and US market introduction of the first rival biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab).

Amgen’s Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) has officially entered the US market, making it the first of potentially 10 biosimilars referencing Humira to launch in 2023.

Saudi Arabia approved an adalimumab biosimilar, a denosumab biosimilar entered the market in the Republic of Korea, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories announced the completion of a phase 3 study for its rituximab biosimilar.

IQVIA’s Global Use of Medicines Report for 2023 has revealed increased uptake of biosimilars around the world and predicted that biosimilars could generate nearly $300 billion in savings by 2027.

Alteogen and Alvotech announce updates for their respective license partnerships; Samsung Bioepis speeds up interchangeability study for its adalimumab biosimilar; Dong-A ST shares positive phase 3 results for its ustekinumab biosimilar.

The China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved Bio-Thera Solutions’ tocilizumab biosimilar (BAT1806) referencing Actemra for the treatment of several rheumatic conditions.

A case study outlined a pediatric case of scalp and nail psoriasis, which was successfully treated with an adalimumab biosimilar and monitored with in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy.

Alvotech announced that a phase 1 pharmacokinetic study for its golimumab biosimilar referencing Simponi has commenced.

The authors of an retrospective real-world study of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa treated with adalimumab concluded that switching patients between adalimumab products risked a greater likelihood of loss of effectiveness.

Alvotech, an Iceland-based company, announced that the FDA accepted its biologics license application (BLA) for its proposed ustekinumab biosimilar referencing Stelara. The company said it expects the FDA’s decision in the second half of 2023.

Celltrion Healthcare submitted a biologics license application (BLA) to the FDA for its biobetter of its infliximab biosimilar allowing for subcutaneous administration (Remsima SC).

Health Canada has approved the high-concentration version of Samsung Bioepis and Organon’s Hadlima, a citrate-free adalimumab biosimilar referencing Humira.

A study assessing the use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitor biosimilars in France found that the biosimilar penetration rate was higher for infliximab compared to etanercept and adalimumab. The authors said they aimed to understand the key drivers for biosimilar use to improve biosimilar uptake in France.

News surrounding biosimilars referencing Humira (adalimumab) topped the list of biosimilar articles related to rheumatology in 2022, highlighting the excitement for these biosimilars to launch starting in early 2023.

Janssen filed a lawsuit against Amgen, claiming the latter infringed on the former’s patents when creating its ustekinumab biosimilar, and Express Scripts announced that it would add adalimumab biosimilars to formulary.

Fresenius Kabi announced the FDA approval of its adalimumab biosimilar Idacio (adalimumab-aacf), making it the eighth biosimilar referencing Humira (adalimumab) to be approved in the United States.

The FDA has accepted Biogen’s biologics license application for a tocilizumab biosimilar candidate (BIIB800) referencing Actemra for review.

Following their initial European launch of the drug, Alvotech and STADA Arzneimittel launch their adalimumab biosimilar referencing Humira in 7 more European countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Romania, and Slovenia.

Iceland-based Alvotech received regulatory approval for AVT02, its biosimilar referencing Humira (adalimumab), from the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia.

If every adalimumab biosimilar had an interchangeability designation, the United States could save additional $765 million annually, according to calculations from 3 biosimilar experts.