May 4th 2024
A review article summarized the product attributes of reference and biosimilar adalimumab products, such as formulation with or without citrate, delivery volume, and needle gauge, relevant to patients’ experience of injection-site pain.
Low-Dose Strategy for Etanercept in Psoriatic Arthritis Can Maintain Remission
July 11th 2018Italian researchers report that 72% of their trial participants being treated for psoriatic arthritis achieved sustained remission with ETN 25 mg biweekly, which was maintained a year after treatment initiation.
Observational Study Finds High Patient Satisfaction With Prefilled Biosimilar SB4 Pen
July 6th 2018A survey of German patients who used a prefilled pen for subcutaneous delivery of biosimilar etanercept SB4 has reported a very high level of patient satisfaction with the product following an interim analysis.
ILAR Treatment Recommendations for Psoriatic Arthritis in Resource-Poor Countries Available
June 28th 2018New International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) recommendations are now available for the treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis living in resource-poor regions, including Central and South America and Africa.
Dutch Study at EULAR Evaluates Impact of Switch From Originator to Biosimilar Etanercept
June 26th 2018The study, conducted in 80 patients with rheumatic diseases who elected to switch from treatment with originator etanercept to biosimilar etanercept, found that 80% were willing to switch, and switching did not affect treatment effectiveness during 1 year of follow up.
Treat-To-Target Principles Not Followed in Many Patients With RA
June 21st 2018Guidelines recommend that disease activity should be assessed every 1 to 3 months in patients with high or moderate disease activity, and every 6 to 12 months in those with low disease activity or remission, but implementation of these principles has not been well evaluated in the United States.
Low-Dose Biosimilar Rituximab Is Effective in Treating RA
June 17th 2018Rituximab has previously been shown to be effective at doses of 1000 mg in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had previously received other biologic agents. Research presented at the European League Against Rheumatism's Annual European Congress of Rheumatology demonstrates that using lower doses of biosimilar rituximab—which may provide a substantial cost savings—is also effective.
ACR Stresses Pharmacovigilance and Postmarket Monitoring in the Biosimilar Era
June 15th 2018This week, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) released a new position statement on the importance of pharmacovigilance and the critical need to continue monitoring new drugs after they reach the market.
Researchers Report on Infliximab Biosimilars BCD-055 and CT-P13
June 14th 2018At the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)'s Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, held from June 13-16 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, researchers reported on Biocad’s Russian-authorized biosimilar infliximab, BCD-055, and on switches to the widely approved infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 (Inflectra, Remsima).
Nonmedical Switches Reduce Treatment Costs, Increase Healthcare Utilization
June 13th 2018During the European League Against Rheumatism’s Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, researchers published findings on the economic impacts of nonmedical switching; while 1 study found that switching to biosimilar infliximab brought down costs without sacrificing efficacy or safety, but another raised concerns about increases in overall healthcare utilization.
European Study: Patients Remain on Ineffective RA Treatment for Too Long
June 12th 2018If European League Against Rheumatism guidelines are followed, when a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) does not reach remission or a state of low disease activity after 6 months of treatment, then the patient’s treatment should be modified regardless of the drug therapy being used (biologic or small molecule).
Obesity Is a Predictor of Inferior Response to Anti-TNF Drugs
May 29th 2018While it is already known that obesity may contribute to an increased risk developing some immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, as well as more severe disease activity and a higher burden of hospitalization, a new review found that obesity is also a predictor of inferior response to anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents.
DAS28 and Mental Health Could Predict Disease Flare in Patients Tapering Anti-TNF Drugs
May 21st 2018Currently, beyond the evaluation of a patient’s 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28), there are no standard methods to determine whether patients will respond well to dose reduction of anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy.
HLA Alleles May Play a Role in Formation of Anti-Drug Antibodies to Adalimumab
May 21st 2018Specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are associated with the formation of anti-drug antibodies to adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa, potentially causing reduced therapeutic response.
ACR Members Push for Legislation on Rising Costs and Barriers to Care
May 19th 2018This week, rheumatologists and rheumatology stakeholders from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) took to Capitol Hill to advocate on pressing issues in rheumatology care, such as the rising costs of treatment and lack of access to care.
Women With Ankylosing Spondylitis Have Lower Anti-TNF Agent Retention Rate Than Men
May 13th 2018In treating ankylosing spondylitis, anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs produce a response in approximately 60% of patients. For the 40% of patients who do not respond to treatment, previous studies have suggested that patient characteristics, including sex, may play a role.
BPC's Nonmedical Switching Guidelines Seek to Preserve Physician–Patient Relationship
May 10th 2018In an interview with The Center for Biosimilars®, Dennis Cryer, MD, physician co-convener of the Biologics Prescribers Collaborative (BPC), said, "We still feel that much of the effectiveness of therapy is the relationship and the trust that can be developed between the physician and the patient."
UK Researchers Report a Successful Switch to Biosimilar Etanercept
May 4th 2018Yesterday, at the British Society for Rheumatology’s Annual Conference held in Liverpool, United Kingdom, researchers presented a study that investigated the clinical outcomes of a multi-disciplinary switch to biosimilar etanercept from the reference product in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Low-Dose Methotrexate Plus Adalimumab Yields Similar PROs to High-Dose Treatment
May 3rd 2018While adalimumab and methotrexate are understood to have a synergistic effect, the MUSICA trial sought to evaluate the ideal dose of methotrexate needed in patients who receive combination therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
Motion Analysis Shows That Auto-Injectors Can Be Used by Patients With Varying Degrees of Disability
April 28th 2018While injectable drugs, including some innovator anti–tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and their biosimilars, have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hand disability can limit the ability of patients with RA to use syringes to administer medication. Prefilled, disposable auto-injectors may help to alleviate this issue and have demonstrated acceptability studies, but questions have remained about whether patients with reduced manual dexterity may still experience needle displacement when using these devices.
ACR Says Short-Term Insurance Plans Could Hurt Patients With Rheumatic Diseases
April 27th 2018The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) told CMS in a letter this week that short-term, limited-duration insurance plans could reduce or restrict access to crucial care for people living with rheumatic diseases.