Gastroenterology

Infliximab Saves on Short-Term Costs in ASUC, and Biosimilars Could Help

February 12th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) can occur in up to 25% of patients with UC. Salvage therapy with infliximab or cyclosporine is standard first-line therapy for patients who do not respond adequately to intravenous corticosteroids, but questions have arisen about the cost-effectiveness of this approach versus early colectomy. A recent study, conducted in a tertiary hospital network in Australia, sought to compare healthcare utilization and costs between patients with ASUC who had early colectomy and those who were treated with infliximab.

Patient Awareness of Biosimilars Impacts Adherence, but Nurse-Led Education Could Help

January 23rd 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

Despite the fact that biosimilars have a longer history in the European Union than in the United States, many European patients still lack awareness of these medicines, and data suggest that a lack of awareness may be keeping patients from adhering to their therapies.

New Research Finds Switching to CT-P13 Is Safe in IBD, and So Is Switching to the Reference

January 14th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

The body of evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of biosimilar infliximab, CT-P13 (Inflectra, Remsima), is growing, particularly in the extrapolated indication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This month saw the publication of 2 new studies that provided reassuring data on CT-P13, one of which focused on switching pediatric patients with IBD to CT-P13, and the second of which explored switching to the reference infliximab from the biosimilar in adults with IBD.

Researchers Report Positive Early Data for SB2 in Treating IBD

January 4th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

A recent letter, published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, reported on early findings from an ongoing, 18-month, multicenter, observational prospective study conducted among the cohort of the Sicilian Network for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). According to the authors of the letter, these are the first data on SB2 in treating IBD.

Risk of TB High in Indian Patients With IBD Who Receive Infliximab

December 31st 2018

By Samantha DiGrande

Article

Data on the risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation with infliximab therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are from countries where TB is particularly prevalent, such as India, remains limited. A recent study sought to evaluate the rate of tubercular reactivation with infliximab in a cohort of patients with IBD.

Study in Patients With IBD Finds Good Long-Term Efficacy of CT-P13

December 31st 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

Biologic drugs can effectively treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the cost of these products can be prohibitive. Biosimilars such as CT-P13 (Remsima, Inflectra), an infliximab biosimilar referencing Remicade, have the potential to drive down treatment costs and enhance access to biologics for the patients who need them.

Study: Vedolizumab In the First Line Brings Down IBD Treatment Costs

December 29th 2018

By Samantha DiGrande

Article

Vedolizumab is approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis, both forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), who have had an inadequate response or loss of response to immunomodulators, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, or corticosteroid therapy.

French Study Finds CT-P13 Equivalent to Reference Infliximab in CD

December 16th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

The authors concluded that in their analysis of real-world data, the effectiveness of the biosimilar was equivalent to that of the reference product in patients with Crohn disease (CD) who were naïve to therapy with infliximab, and no difference was observed in terms of safety between the 2 therapies.

Study Identifies 4 Factors Predicting Response to Infliximab in CD

November 23rd 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

A recent study sought to clarify factors that could predict therapeutic response to infliximab in Japanese patients with Crohn disease (CD), and found 4 key indicators that may predict response in clinical practice.

Asian Gastroenterologists Are Less Confident in Biosimilars Than Their European Peers

November 20th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

Results of a recent survey demonstrate that Asian physicians are less confident in using biosimilars than their European peers are.