American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting

As the only anti–tumor necrosis factor therapies currently available to US patients with inflammatory diseases, biosimilars of infliximab are increasingly used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. While there are a wealth of data on real-world use of these products in territories like the European Union, less research has examined their use in the United States. During the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, held this week in Atlanta, Georgia, researchers reported on the results of 3 studies that assessed real-world use of biosimilar infliximab in the US context.

The lead author said the results indicate that biologics can be used in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as effectively as in those who are younger.

While US patients continue to wait for a biosimilar etanercept to become commercially available, real-world data continue to amass for Samsung Bioepis’ biosimilar, SB4, in European clinical practice. The biosimilar, sold as Benepali in the European context, was the subject of several studies presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Among the first biosimilars to gain US approval was Sandoz’s etanercept biosimilar, GP2015, or Erelzi. The product was authorized by the FDA in 2016, but it has not yet launched in the US market due to long-running patent disputes related to Amgen’s innovator product, Enbrel. In other markets, however, the biosimilar is a widely used treatment option, and data presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, held this week in Atlanta, Georgia, show that not only is the biosimilar safe and effective in real-world practice in ex-US markets, but it could also bring about substantial savings in the United States once it becomes available.

The results will inform will inform counseling and management of pregnant women with inflammatory diseases who need tofacitinib or non-tumor necrosis factor inhibitors during pregnancy, said the author.

Postmarket drug price changes alone accounted for most of the recent spending growth on biologics, and manufacturers’ rebates had little impact, according to an abstract presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, this week.

Over the past few years, awareness of biosimilars has been increasing; however, research presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, shows that while US rheumatologists hold growing awareness of biosimilars, hesitancy remains around such issues as switching stable patients and the extrapolation of indications.

On Sunday, during the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)’s 2019 meeting, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, researchers reported on the safety and efficacy of the proposed infliximab biosimilar ABP 710 in a phase 3 study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Researchers also reported on a phase 1 and 3 study of the proposed rituximab biosimilar, ABP 798, in patients with RA.

As more biosimilars are earning regulatory approvals in both the United States and the European Union, the question of whether to switch patients (and at what point to do so) continues to be discussed; researchers will present findings from 2 etanercept switching studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Annual meeting, held in Chicago, Illinois October 19-24, 2018.

During the American College of Rheumatology’s Annual Meeting, held in Chicago, Illinois from October 19-24, 2018, various researchers will present findings on the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of 3 adalimumab biosimilars.

The potential for the development of antidrug antibodies is a key concern among prescribers who use all biologics that target tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Two presentations at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, which will be held from October 19-24, 2018, will address the immunogenicity of biosimilars in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

As biosimilar etanercept SB4, sold in many markets as Benepali, has entered the rheumatoid arthritis treatment space, researchers have recognized the need to investigate the retention rates and disease activity scores among patients receiving SB4 and its reference.

Stakeholders hoping to see increased uptake of biosimilars in the United States are increasingly pointing to a lack of provider awareness as a key hindrance to the biosimilars marketplace. New research, to be presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, held from October 19-24, 2018, suggests that, despite efforts to educate providers, awareness of biosimilars—as well as awareness of patients’ attitudes toward them—remains low.

As more biosimilars are poised to become available to US patients, American rheumatologists are looking to their European counterparts for lessons learned from nonmedical switches from reference products to biosimilars. During the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, held from October 19-24, 2018, several research teams will present on nonmedical switching in the European context.

A review was recently conducted among 2 different types of randomized clinical trials in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA): those comparing reference biologics’ efficacy versus placebo, and those comparing reference biologics’ efficacy versus biosimilars.

During the American College of Rheumatology 2018 annual meeting, which will be held from October 19-24 in Chicago, Illinois, a variety of researchers will present on real-world data concerning biosimilar infliximab CT-P13.

Three presentations at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology’s Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, covered research on the real-world treatment of rheumatology patients with originator infliximab therapy and biosimilar infliximab (CT-P13; Inflectra and Remsima) and etanercept (Benepali) therapy.

“If the patient doesn’t have better access, you don’t need a biosimilar," argues Roy Fleischmann, MD.

Chinese researchers employed a new online consultation tool to improve disease management for patients with rheumatic diseases who travel long distances for a consultation with their rheumatologist and noted significant savings for the patients.

Four presentations on Monday at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, covered research comparing reference etanercept to 4 proposed biosimilars: SB4, LBEC0101, CHS-0214, and GP2015.

At this week’s American College of Rheumatology 2017 Annual Meeting, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) announced 1-year data from the VOLTAIRE-RA trial, which showed that BI’s newly approved adalimumab biosimilar (Cyltezo) showed no clinically meaningful differences in safety, efficacy, or immunogenicity from the reference adalimumab (Humira) in patients who had moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

On Tuesday, 2 research groups presented findings from studies conducted in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were switched from reference rituximab to a biosimilar therapy.

Research presented at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis and higher body mass index were less likely to achieve remission and more likely to face higher rates of disability.

Today, 4 presentations at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, covered research on switching studies concerning etanercept and infliximab biosimilars.

In a presentation titled “Biosimilar Medicine: Changing Landscape in Health Care,” given on Monday at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, J. Eugene Huffstutter MD, FACP, FACR, shared practical considerations for using biosimilars in the rheumatology clinic.

Researchers identify factors that make certain patients with rheumatoid arthritis good candidates for successfully tapering biologic DMARD dose.

Three presentations at this week’s 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, cover research on pharmacokinetic equivalence, safety, and switching of 2 proposed adalimumab biosimilars, GP2017 and CHS-1420.

Two posters presented today at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2017 meeting in San Diego, California, highlight the gaps in US rheumatologists’ knowledge concerning biosimilar therapies, and underscore the importance of greater physician education about biosimilar medicines.