Gastroenterology

Obesity Is a Predictor of Inferior Response to Anti-TNF Drugs

May 29th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

While it is already known that obesity may contribute to an increased risk developing some immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, as well as more severe disease activity and a higher burden of hospitalization, a new review found that obesity is also a predictor of inferior response to anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents.

Adding a DMARD or Switching Away From Anti-TNF Drugs Helps Patients With IBD and Paradoxical Arthritis

May 28th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

The authors of a recent study report that the addition of a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) or a switch to ustekinumab showed greater efficacy than changing anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatments in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who develop paradoxical arthritis.

Should Pregnant Patients With Inflammatory Diseases Use Anti-TNF Agents?

May 18th 2018

By Samantha DiGrande

Article

One of the main concerns attributed to anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment during pregnancy is the ability for the therapy to be transferred to the fetus. Complete immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, both maternal and therapeutic, are delivered to the placenta during pregnancy naturally. This fact is important for patients who are treated with adalimumab, golimumab, and infliximab, which are complete IgG1 anti-TNF antibodies, and therefore transferred easily to the placenta.

Study: No New Safety Concerns With Biosimilar Infliximab in Pregnant Patients

May 16th 2018

By Samantha DiGrande

Article

Although the benefits of originator infliximab have been deemed to outweigh the potential harm during pregnancy, in a recent observational study, researchers looked to evaluate whether biosimilar infliximab therapy was associated with any new safety risks.

Anti-TNF Therapy May Reduce Risk of Parkinson Disease in Patients With IBD

April 30th 2018

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

While systemic inflammation is a potential biological mechanism underlying both Parkinson disease (PD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), clinical data on comorbid PD and IBD are few. In a new study published in JAMA Neurology, researchers report on a retrospective cohort study that assessed the incidence of PD among patients with IBD and sought to identify whether anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy for IBD alters the risk of PD.

EFCCA Report Highlights Unequal Access to Biologics and Biosimilars for IBD

April 25th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

The European Federation of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA), an umbrella organization that represents 34 patient associations around the world, recently released a report on healthcare inequities among nations and regions. In the report, the EFCCA identified disparities in access to biologics and biosimilars.

Irish Evidence Shows Lag Between Approval, Acceptance of Biosimilar Infliximab

April 2nd 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

“A [3]-year time lag for the next biosimilar medicine, from market authorization to the patient switching process, should not occur," say the authors of a recent review.

Noninvasive Evaluation Can Help Determine Infliximab's Efficacy in IBD

March 22nd 2018

By Kaitlynn Ely

Article

In patients with IBD, it was found that gut microbial levels lack in diversity. After receiving infliximab treatment, CD patients restored their microbial diversity and increased their Clostridiales levels. Clostridiales reduced proinflammatory bacteria, produced short-chain fatty acids, and induced an immune response.

Spanish Provider Group Revises Its Position on Biosimilars

March 16th 2018

By Samantha DiGrande

Article

This week, the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD) became the most recent organization to announce an updated position statement on the use of biosimilars.

Oral Anti-TNF Agent Met Key Efficacy Endpoints in Phase 2 Clinical Trial

March 15th 2018

By Kelly Davio

Article

This week, Israel-based Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc, announced positive results from a phase 2 clinical trial for its orally administered anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drug, OPRX-106, a plant cell–expressed recombinant human TNF receptor II fused to an IgG1 Fc domain.