Practice

Study Suggests Predictive Biomarker for Therapeutic Outcomes in Ankylosing Spondylitis

September 14th 2018

By Jackie Syrop

A new study suggests that CD8+ natural killer cells are a biomarker that can predict therapeutic outcome for patients with ankylosing spondylitis who are administered anti–tumor necrosis factor agents because they are nonresponsive to conventional treatment.

More Evidence of Low Rates of Adherence and Persistence for Biologics for Inflammatory Diseases

September 13th 2018

By Jackie Syrop

Article

Adherence and persistence rates for biologic drugs are still low in the United States, leading to suboptimal patient outcomes and putting a substantial burden on the healthcare system.

Switching to Biosimilar Epoetin Alfa Is Noninferior to Continuing Epogen When Using a Dosing Algorithm

September 12th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

Two pivotal studies of biosimilar epoetin alfa (Retacrit) versus its reference (Epogen) in patients undergoing hemodialysis have shown that the biosimilar and the originator have comparable safety and efficacy. In the phase 3b PIEDA (Phase 3b Investigation of Erythropoietin Drugs Using a Specified Dosing Algorithm) study, investigators sought to further investigate how switching from the reference to the biosimilar affects maintenance of hemoglobin levels when using an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent dosing algorithm.

Study: Biosimilar Filgrastim Associated With Fewer Adverse Events than Biosimilar Pegfilgrastim

September 10th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

While both the biosimilar filgrastim and biosimilar pegfilgrastim were effective in reducing the incidence of neutropenia, adverse events related to granulocyte-colony stimulating factor therapy were significantly higher in patients who received pegfilgrastim.

Celltrion Asks NHS to Start Biologics Earlier in Patients With RA

September 5th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

Currently, UK eligibility criteria for starting biologics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) set a threshold of a disease activity score in a count of 28 joints of 5.1 or higher—the threshold for severe disease—on at least 2 occasions measured 1 month apart.

Infliximab is Effective and Well Tolerated in Pediatric Patients With CD, Study Finds

September 3rd 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

Pediatric Crohn disease (CD), which can have serious impacts on children’s growth, is increasing in incidence. Current treatments for pediatric patients with CD—such as corticosteroids or immunomodulators—may be particularly difficult for children to tolerate. Infliximab, however, has been shown to be effective and well tolerated in children, as a newly published phase 3 study in Japanese pediatric patients with CD found that infliximab improved clinical outcome measures from week 2 to week 56.

Review Suggests That Rheumatologists, Patients Need More Data on Switching to Etanercept Biosimilars

September 2nd 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

Regulators licensed the 3 etanercept biosimilars discussed for all of the indications of the reference drug on the basis of the extrapolation of indications, a practice that the authors say rheumatologists may find “anomalous and a source of debate.”

Lower Pain Scores With Biosimilar Pegfilgrastim After Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant

August 27th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

There was a significant difference observed in pain scores between pediatric patients receiving pegfilgrastim versus those receiving filgrastim after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Survey Finds Patient, Nurse Preference for Biosimilar Etanercept's Autoinjector

August 22nd 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

Because patients with rheumatoid arthritis may have compromised manual dexterity, they may have challenges with self-administering their biologic therapies. In the case of etanercept, which is typically administered once per week, device design that prioritizes ease of use can help improve patient adherence to treatment regimens.

European Study: All Biologics Improve Quality of Life in RA, But Rituximab Is Cost-Effective

August 20th 2018

By Samantha DiGrande

Article

The researchers concluded that rituximab should be considered as a preferred biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy, though treatment of RA with any biologic medication improved quality of life significantly.