Practice

New Treatment Approach for Aflibercept Approved in Europe

August 5th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

The updated treatment approach will allow clinicians, based on individual patients’ outcomes, to lengthen the intervals between injections for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who are already in the first year of treatment. That could mean fewer injections and fewer trips to the clinic for patients with AMD.

Study: Adalimumab Monotherapy Provides Benefits Up to 3 Years in RA

July 30th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

While data are becoming more numerous on the feasibility of withdrawing a biologic from a patient who has reached low disease activity (LDA) on combination therapy, data concerning the ability to maintain a treatment target on biologic monotherapy are fewer. A new, post-hoc study reported that adalimumab, used as monotherapy, led to positive clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes in patients with RA for up to 3 years in more than half of patients who reached LDA after combination therapy.

On-Demand, Low-Dose Rituximab Proves Effective in Treating RA

July 24th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

Rituximab, primarily used as a second-line biologic therapy, was used in a cost-saving and adverse-event reducing on-demand schedule in 94.6% of patients; these patients were assessed for signs of relapse and the need for another rituximab infusion at their regularly scheduled visits, and they also had the option of contacting a healthcare provider by phone if they felt that they were relapsing.

Study Shows No Increase in Healthcare Utilization After a Nonmedical Switch to a Biosimilar

July 23rd 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

Six months after patients switched from reference infliximab to biosimilar infliximab, there was no meaningful increase in patients’ outpatient healthcare use, according to a new study.

A Majority of Patients With PsA Discontinue Their First Biologic Before 12 Months

July 19th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

In a recent study, only 44.5% of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) persisted with their index biologic for 12 months or more.

Educational Programs on Biosimilar Insulin Benefit Both Patients and Providers

July 18th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

At the American Diabetes Association’s 78th Scientific Sessions, researchers presented ways in which education—for both patients and providers—can help improve the care of patients with diabetes who use biosimilar or follow-on insulins.

Consequences of Switching to Anticancer Biosimilars Are "Unknown," Concludes Appraisal

July 16th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

Biosimilars of anticancer monoclonal antibodies are emerging in the therapeutic landscape, and while the body of evidence concerning switching to supportive care biosimilars—epoetin and filgrastim biosimilars—is robust, there are fewer data available concerning a switch to biosimilars of products such as rituximab, trastuzumab, and bevacizumab.

Switching From Reference Adalimumab to Biosimilar ABP 501 Does Not Cause Immunogenicity

July 13th 2018

By Jackie Syrop

Article

Transitioning from reference adalimumab (Humira) to Amgen’s FDA- and EU-approved adalimumab biosimilar ABP 501 (Amgevita) was not associated with increased immunogenicity over an observation period of 72 weeks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to the results of a study presented at the European Congress of Rheumatology.

Low-Dose Strategy for Etanercept in Psoriatic Arthritis Can Maintain Remission

July 11th 2018

By Jackie Syrop

Article

Italian researchers report that 72% of their trial participants being treated for psoriatic arthritis achieved sustained remission with ETN 25 mg biweekly, which was maintained a year after treatment initiation.

Observational Study Finds High Patient Satisfaction With Prefilled Biosimilar SB4 Pen

July 6th 2018

By Jackie Syrop

Article

A survey of German patients who used a prefilled pen for subcutaneous delivery of biosimilar etanercept SB4 has reported a very high level of patient satisfaction with the product following an interim analysis.