A study of Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis who were naïve to anti–tumor necrosis factor treatment found that patients preferred adalimumab to infliximab, but the researchers also reported no differences in the efficacy of the 2 treatments.
A study of Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who were naïve to anti—tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment found that patients preferred adalimumab to infliximab, but the researchers also reported no differences in the efficacy of the 2 treatments. The study was conducted by Tsutomu Mizoshita, MD, PhD, and colleagues, and was published in Medicine (Baltimore) in August 2017.
During regular outpatient visits or during hospital stays, 25 patients with UC who were naïve to anti-TNF therapy were asked to evaluate, via questionnaire, whether they preferred to receive infliximab or adalimumab, and to provide reasons that contributed to their choice of therapy.
The researchers used the Mayo score and endoscopic activity index (EAI) as a measure of disease activity in the patients, before they initiated the treatment of their preference and at weeks 14 and 54. The primary difference between the 2 treatments is the mode (intravenous versus subcutaneous) and interval (every 2 months versus every 2 weeks) of administration. There is no difference in cost to the patient between infliximab and adalimumab in Japan, as healthcare is publicly funded.
Of the 25 patients who answered the questionnaire, 40% (n = 10) preferred infliximab, while 60% (n = 15) preferred adalimumab.
Patients who favored infliximab considered the following factors:
Patients who favored adalimumab considered the following factors:
There were no statistical differences in remission induction and maintenance between the infliximab and adalimumab groups with regard to response, remission, mucosal healing, steroid-free, or steroid-free remission rates at weeks 14 and 54. The efficacy of adalimumab in remission induction and maintenance was equivalent to that of infliximab in patients with UC who were naïve to anti-TNF therapy in this prospective study, but more patients preferred adalimumab.
The researchers believe their study is the first to show that there were no differences between infliximab and adalimumab with regard to response, remission, mucosal healing, steroid-free, and steroid-free remission rates in Japanese patients with UC who were naïve to anti-TNF therapy. It is also the first head-to-head comparison trial of the efficacy of remission induction and maintenance between infliximab and adalimumab in this population. The investigators suggest that further studies be conducted in larger populations to clarify which anti-TNF therapy is preferred by patients with UC.
Webinar Addresses Solutions to Improve Adalimumab Biosimilar Uptake
March 18th 2024Government policies, including those related to prescribing incentives and interchangeability, need to be reworked to encourage biosimilar adoption and create meaningful savings for health systems, according to speakers at a recent webinar.
Decoding the Patent Puzzle: Navigating the Legal Landscape of Biosimilars
March 17th 2024On this episode of Not So Different, Ha Kung Wong, JD, an intellectual patent attorney partner at Venable LLP, details the confusing landscape that is the US patent system and how it can be improved to help companies overcome barriers to biosimilar competition.
Biosimilars Gastroenterology Roundup for January 2024—Podcast Edition
February 4th 2024On this episode of Not So Different, we reminisce on all the major gastroenterology news from January, which brought several reports quantifying how the gastroenterology biosimilar market is progressing and marked the 1-year anniversary of adalimumab biosimilar competition in the US.
FDA Green Lights Second Tocilizumab Biosimilar
March 7th 2024The FDA has approved Fresenius Kabi's tocilizumab biosimilar (Tyenne; tocilizumab-aazg), making it the second tocilizumab biosimilar overall and first tocilizumab biosimilar to be approved with both intravenous and subcutaneous administration options.
Eye on Pharma: Canadian Aflibercept Settlement; Sandoz Acquires Cimerli; Payer Chooses Cyltezo
March 6th 2024Biocon Biologics settled with the maker of Eylea (aflibercept), announcing a launch date for its biosimilar competitor in Canada; Sandoz has officially acquired Cimerli, a ranibizumab biosimilar; AARP Medicare Rx from United Healthcare has added Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm) and removed the originator (Humira) from its formulary.