Rheumatology

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.

As the US awaits the 2023 launch of adalimumab biosimilars, Biogen announces an injunction against Sandoz over a natalizumab biosimilar, Rani Therapeutics initiates a development program for an oral ustekinumab biosimilar, and Bio-Thera Solutions begins a phase 3 trial for a secukinumab biosimilar.

Abstracts presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus meeting explored the adoption of infliximab biosimilars, utilization patterns of bevacizumab biosimilars in ophthalmology and oncology settings, and the budget impact of transferring patients to a natalizumab biosimilar from the originator.

Authors of a plain-language summary of the VOLTAIRE-RA study examined how to help patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), their families, patient advocates, and health care professionals learn about potential new treatment options as the United States prepares for the introduction of adalimumab biosimilars.

A report from IQVIA recapped the US experience with Semglee, an insulin glargine biosimilar that has versions with and without an interchangeability designation, to help predict the adoption patterns of adalimumab biosimilars when they enter the market in 2023.

A report from Cardinal Health tells that rheumatologists are more familiar and confident in biosimilars compared with 2020, showing that education efforts are effective and that rheumatologists are more willing to prescribe biosimilars to their patients.

Bio-Thera Solutions began a phase 1 trial for its mepolizumab biosimilar candidate; Biocon Biologics licenses out 2 biosimilars to Yoshindo; and Alvotech and STADA Arzneimittel launch Hukyndra, an adalimumab biosimilar, in Switzerland.

A placebo-controlled clinical trial found that rituximab biosimilar HLX01 in combination with methotrexate was successful at improving the clinical outcomes of patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis.

The final part of this 4-part series assesses what payers should know about the US introduction of adalimumab biosimilars coming in 2023 as well as policy consideration they can implement to reap the benefits of biosimilar savings.

Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, chronicles how drug prices as a result of biosimilar competition has evolved over time and what factors may contribute the most to price erosion.

In this episode of Not So Different, Julie Reed, executive director of the Biosimilars Forum, discussed current policy initiatives that could help biosimilar adoption and how the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to influence the adalimumab market.

The third installment of this 4-part series dives into how providers, administrators, nurses, and pharmacists can prepare for adalimumab biosimilars and what role they can play in patient acceptance and use of biosimilars.

The second part of this 4-part series looks at what patients and employers can expect when adalimumab biosimilars hit the market.

As part of a larger series preparing for the US market entrance of adalimumab biosimilars in 2023, Steven Lucio, PharmD, BCPS, senior principal of pharmacy solutions at Vizient, makes predictions for how the rollout of these biosimilars may play out and offers advice to stakeholders for how to maintain a robust market.

Celltrion Healthcare released positive data for an ustekinumab biosimilar, and Samsung Bioepis announced long-term safety and efficacy results for its adalimumab biosimilar.

In the first article of a 4-part series, The Center for Biosimilars® offers specifics for each of the adalimumab biosimilar products coming in 2023 and explains why the experience in Europe may differ from what’s coming in the United States.

Thanks to the success of its adalimumab biosimilar in Canadian and European markets, Alvotech’s revenues reached over $40 million during the first 6 months of 2022, nearly 20 times more than its revenue from the same period in 2021.