Practice

Clinical and Cost Effectiveness in Switching From Innovator to Biosimilar Infliximab

August 12th 2017

By Jackie Syrop

The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health reviewed the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and advice from guidelines concerning switching from innovator to biosimilar infliximab for the treatment of several autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and psoriatic arthritis.

The Top 5 Biosimilars Articles for the Week of August 7

August 11th 2017

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

The Center for Biosimilars recaps the top 5 stories in biosimilars news for the week of August 7, 2017.

TARGET Trial: Sarilumab Improves PROs in Rheumatoid Arthritis

August 10th 2017

By Kelly Davio

A recently published study demonstrates that sarilumab improves patient-reported outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who did not achieve adequate response with, or who were intolerant to, anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents.

Pharmacist Sees Cost, Programs, Safety as Key Payer and Provider Concerns With Biosimilars

August 8th 2017

By Kelly Davio

Kyle F. Skiermont, PharmD, COO of Fairview Pharmacy Services, spoke with The Center for Biosimilars® about his experience with payers and providers as they prepare for the impact of biosimilar drugs and possible non-medical switching.

Anti-TNF Agents Improve Outcomes, Raise Risks in East Asian Patients With IBD

August 8th 2017

By Jackie Syrop

The introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha agents has improved treatment options for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, these agents can also lead to increased vulnerability to infections, development of autoimmune diseases, malignancies, and decreased immunogenicity of vaccinations.

Some Consumers Must Buy Brand Name Drugs, Not Generics

August 8th 2017

By Jackie Syrop

Contradicting standard advice given to most patients that the preferred medication is a less-expensive generic medication, rather than a brand-name drug, some health insurers are telling consumers the opposite: they must buy brand-name drugs even when cheaper generics are available.

Infographic: Patient Concerns With Biosimilar Substitution

August 6th 2017

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

A recent survey of 588 Canadian patients revealed that many patients had serious concerns about biosimilar substitution.

French Clinicians' Use of Zarzio for Neutropenia Risk Driven by Patient Factors

August 2nd 2017

By Jackie Syrop

Data from a recent study show that biosimilar filgrastim is readily used in France for the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. The data also demonstrate that clinicians’ assessment of febrile neutropenia risk is driven by patient factors more than by the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer’s risk category of the chemotherapy regimen.

Survey Highlights Patient Concerns With Automatic Biosimilar Substitution

August 2nd 2017

By Kelly Davio

A recent survey shows that some patients have greater concerns about automatic substitution of biosimilar products than they do about the high cost of biologic drugs.

The Impact of Infliximab-abda (Renflexis) on Insurers and Organizations

August 1st 2017

How will the 35% price discount by Merck/Samsung Bioepis on their infliximab biosimilar, compared with the reference, influence stakeholder uptake?