Practice

Rheumatologists' Biosimilar Awareness Is Growing, But Their Confidence Has Room to Improve

November 11th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Over the past few years, awareness of biosimilars has been increasing; however, research presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, shows that while US rheumatologists hold growing awareness of biosimilars, hesitancy remains around such issues as switching stable patients and the extrapolation of indications.

Applying Biosimilar Savings in Markets Around the World

November 8th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

The great promise of biosimilars is their ability to provide high-quality treatment at a reduced cost, thereby producing cost savings that can be reapplied. But how are healthcare systems around the globe utilizing those cost savings? During the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 2019 meeting, held this week in Copenhagen, Denmark, several teams of researchers reported on how biosimilars are impacting international markets, and how they could provide headroom for new, expensive treatments.

Seriously Ill Medicare Beneficiaries Struggle With Financial Hardship

November 7th 2019

By Allison Inserro

Article

Among all respondents, 53% of beneficiaries reported having had a serious problem paying a medical bill of any kind. Thirty percent of respondents said prescription drugs created the largest burden.

Amgen's Anticancer Biosimilars Could Provide Substantial Hospital Budget Savings to Italian System

November 4th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research is holding its Europe 2019 meeting this week in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the savings that biosimilars can afford European healthcare systems are a hot topic at this year’s event. Two studies presented on Monday explored how Amgen’s biosimilar bevacizumab (Mvasi) and biosimilar trastuzumab (Kanjinti) could produce significant cost savings for hospitals in the Italian healthcare system.

Research Letter Suggests That Off-label Use May Be Boosting Eculizumab Sales

November 2nd 2019

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

In a research letter appearing this week in JAMA Internal Medicine, authors from Oregon Health and Science University raised the question of whether the “large and increasing revenue from eculizumab” could be tied to off-label use for non-approved indications.

Biosimilar Infliximab Associated With Improved PROs in IBD for New Starts, Switched Patients

November 1st 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

The ONWARD study included patients who initiated therapy with the biosimilar, those who switched from the reference infliximab, or those who switched from a different biologic therapy.

In ASCO Survey, a Majority of US Patients With Cancer Report Anxiety Related to Cost

October 30th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) today released its third annual National Cancer Opinion Survey, results of which highlight the added stress that the financial burden of treatment places on patients with cancer.

ACG Case Studies Report on AEs, and Their Resolution, With Biosimilar Infliximab

October 29th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

This week, clinicians gathered in San Antonio, Texas, for the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)’s 2019 meeting, where a number of presentations focused on the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. During the congress, 2 studies presented addressed adverse events (AEs) associated with—one of which was resolved by—the use of biosimilar infliximab, CT-P13 (Inflectra).

Canadian Gastroenterology Groups Issue Joint Position That Takes Aim at Nonmedical Switching

October 25th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology and Crohn’s and Colitis Canada this week announced a joint statement on biosimilars in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The paper, which is slated to appear in the Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, recommends that patients stable on biologic treatment should not be subject to nonmedical switching, and recommends against automatic substitution of biosimilars for their references.

Pooled Analysis Underscores Safety of Biosimilar Infliximab, CT-P13, in Patients With IBD

October 24th 2019

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

During the United European Gastroenterology Week 2019, held October 29-23 in Barcelona, Spain, researchers from Celltrion presented pooled data from 3 postmarketing studies of CT-P13 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that underscore the safety of the biosimilar.