Practice

Retrospective Study of 56 Million Patients Shows Reduced Risk of Alzheimer With Anti-TNF Use

December 5th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

Researchers from biotech company Tetra Therapeutics have reported that, in their retrospective population-based study of 56 million patients with inflammatory diseases, use of anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents was linked with a reduced risk of Alzheimer disease.

More Evidence Supports Introducing Adalimumab Early in Patients With CD

December 3rd 2019

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

In Crohn disease (CD), anti–tumor necrosis factor therapies like adalimumab have provided an alternative to long-term corticosteroid therapy and have reduced the need for many patients to have surgical interventions. It has been proposed that early treatment with biologics may lead to better outcomes and fewer complications—like strictures and fistulae—and findings from a recent study support that assertion.

Mylan and Biocon Launch Biosimilar Trastuzumab, Ogivri, in the United States

December 2nd 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

Mylan and Biocon have announced that their biosimilar trastuzumab, Ogivri, has become commercially available in the United States. The biosimilar, referencing Herceptin, is now available in a 420-mg multidose vial and a 150-mg single-dose vial.

Nordic Study Shows Similar Retention Rates for Biosimilar and Reference Etanercept, Infliximab

November 25th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

Nordic countries have had some of the highest rates of biosimilar use, and extensive registry data in these countries also allow for observational studies of biosimilar use in real-world clinical practice. A new study used data from 5 such registries—which included more than 2000 patients with spondyloarthritis—to assess retention rates for those treated with biosimilars or reference products of etanercept and infliximab.

AMA Calls on Medical Schools to Include Training on Healthcare Economics

November 22nd 2019

By Allison Inserro

Article

The American Medical Association (AMA) wants medical schools and residency programs to start training medical students and residents in healthcare economics.

Long-Term KOBIO Registry Data Show Comparable Drug Retention for Biosimilar CT-P13, Reference Infliximab

November 20th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

Biosimilar infliximab CT-P13 (Inflectra, Remsima) has been the subject of numerous studies since its authorization in multiple regulatory territories, and this month, data from the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics (KOBIO) registry add to the growing body of knowledge about this biosimilar’s use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in routine clinical practice.

Spanish Study Finds Biosimilar Rituximab Would Need 34% Discount to Match Subcutaneous Option on Cost

November 19th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

This week, a study from Spain retrospectively compared direct costs of intravenous and subcutaneous reference rituximab in the setting of lymphoma, taking into consideration drug costs, pharmacy costs, and chair time-related costs at a single center in 2017. They also conducted the same analysis using the costs of biosimilar rituximab.

More Data Needed on Using Biologics in Children, Review Says

November 18th 2019

By Allison Inserro

Article

A recent review explored the evidence of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and fusion proteins (FP) to examine their safety and efficacy in the most common chronic inflammatory diseases in children—bronchial asthma, psoriasis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Anti-VEGFs May Provide Substantial Economic Value to Patients and Society in Treating Wet AMD

November 18th 2019

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

The field of biosimilar contenders for anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies is taking shape, with biosimilar developer Coherus seeking to launch its ranibizumab biosimilar in 2021 and Samsung Bioepis having reached a commercialization agreement for 2 biosimilar anti-VEGFs of its own. Last week, a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology supported the use of anti-VEGF agents in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), saying that, though these drugs are costly, they may provide substantial economic value to both patients and society.

Novartis Confirms It Has Launched Biosimilar Pegfilgrastim, Ziextenzo, in the United States

November 15th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

Novartis has confirmed in an email to The Center for Biosimilars® that it has launched Sandoz’s pegfilgrastim biosimilar, Ziextenzo, in the United States. According to Novartis, the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for Ziextenzo is $3925, or an approximate 37% discount off the WAC for the reference product, Amgen’s Neulasta.