Rheumatology

In the Short Term, Most Patients With RA Remain on a Biosimilar Post Switch

June 16th 2019

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

During this week’s European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, researchers from the University of Manchester reported on their findings regarding patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involved in the BSRBR-RA study who had switched from reference infliximab or reference etanercept to biosimilars.

In Early Study, Researchers Modify Infliximab to Make It Safer, More Effective

June 14th 2019

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

Researchers say they were able to create an “antibody lock” that makes infliximab more selective in its activity, making it safer and more effective.

Biosimilar Adalimumab, Hulio, Is Safe Long-Term, Causes Less Injection-Site Pain Than Humira

June 14th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

During this week’s European League Against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, researchers will present on the long-term safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the biosimilar versus the reference in an open-label extension study that involved switching between the biosimilar and the reference.

Studies Disagree on the Role of Education, Nocebo Effect in Biosimilar Switching

June 13th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

During this week’s European League Against Rheumatism European Congress of Rheumatology 2019, 2 research teams will present their contrasting findings on education and the nocebo effect.

Real-World Data on SB4 Highlight Biosimilar Etanercept's Efficacy

June 12th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

During this week’s European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, multiple teams of researchers will present their findings on real-world evidence of the biosimilar’s efficacy and the feasibility of switching to SB4 from the reference etanercept, Enbrel.

In the Changing Biosimilar Landscape, Canadian Rheumatology Association Updates Its Position

May 30th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

The Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) has issued an update to its position statement on biosimilars. In the document, the CRA says that evidence for the risk/benefit ratio for biosimilars is accruing rapidly, and physicians must demonstrate fiscal responsibility while providing the best care possible to individual patients.

Switching to Biosimilar Etanercept, Erelzi, Does Not Impact Efficacy, Safety, or Immunogenicity in RA

May 30th 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

Researchers are reporting switching data from the phase 3 EQUIRA study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), demonstrating that a single switch from the reference to the biosimilar had no impact on efficacy, safety, or immunogenicity of etanercept.

Study Identifies Risk Factors for Infliximab Discontinuation in RA

May 27th 2019

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

A study presented at the recent ISPOR 2019 meeting assessed both the cost associated with treatment with infliximab for patients at US hospitals as well as reasons for discontinuation of therapy during follow-up, and it found that insurance coverage status is one factor that plays a role in discontinuation of this therapy that rose consistently in price over the study period.

Fresenius Kabi's Adalimumab Biosimilar Produces Comparable QOL Improvements to Humira

May 22nd 2019

By Kelly Davio

Article

Treatment with the biosimilar, the investigators concluded, resulted in comparable, maintained quality of life improvements that were not impacted by a switch from the reference product.

Biosimilar Monotherapy Sequence for RA Can Be Considered Cost-Effective, Study Finds

May 21st 2019

By The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Article

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a considerable economic burden, and costly biologics, are often restricted to cases in which patients fail to respond adequately to methotrexate or other conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, which may be difficult for some patients to tolerate.