Anti-TNF Therapy Reduces Glycosaminoglycan Levels in Women With RA
November 22nd 2018Despite the extensive body of literature on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the exact causes of the disease are not fully understood. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) is known to play a key role in the disease by stimulating catabolic processes and causing inflammation, and important elements of inflammation include changes in extracellular matrix compounds and their constituents, such as glycosaminoglycans.
Addition of 4 Older Drugs Could Improve Bevacizumab's Effect in Glioblastoma
November 22nd 2018Bevacizumab, an anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for which 1 biosimilar has been approved to date, has been shown to improve quality of life for patients with glioblastoma—and to delay disease progression—but has not prolonged patients’ overall survival. However, recent research suggests that using 4 older drugs together with bevacizumab could provide a more effective treatment protocol.
UK Providers Seek More Real-World Evidence, Financial Incentives for Biosimilar Use
November 21st 2018While the United Kingdom (UK) was a slow adopter of biosimilars compared with many of its European counterparts, recent years have seen a steady uptick in biosimilar use. A new qualitative study, using semistructured interviews with healthcare providers in the United Kingdom’s West Midlands region, sought to assess attitudes toward biosimilars in the clinical specialties of diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatology.
Study: Biosimilar Filgrastim Use Is Concordant With EORTC Guidelines
November 21st 2018Some studies have found that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapies are underused for the prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia (FN) in Europe, but the widespread availability of cheaper biosimilar options has led to increased use. A new study, published in BMC Cancer, sought to examine the use of the biosimilar filgrastim, Zarzio, in relationship to European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) guidelines.
Dose Escalation of Adalimumab Can Overcome Loss of Response in CD
November 19th 2018In many regulatory territories, patients with Crohn disease (CD) who lose response to adalimumab at a dose of 40 mg given every other week may be given an escalation to 40 mg every week. However, in Japan, where adalimumab is typically administered by a healthcare provider rather than by the patient, a study investigated the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of adalimumab after a dose escalation to 80 mg every other week as a means to reduce the need for additional patient appointments.
More UK Evidence Documents Successful Switching to Biosimilar Infliximab
November 19th 2018During the 83rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, researchers from the United Kingdom reported on yet another large, nonmedical switch from reference infliximab to biosimilar CT-P13 (Inflectra, Remsima), this time in the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust.
Study Finds ABP 215 and Bevacizumab Demonstrate PK Similarity in Japanese Men
November 18th 2018The researchers say that their data were consistent with the pharmacokinetic equivalence previously demonstrated in a single-dose PK study that included 202 healthy adult men in the United States and European Union, and thus add to the evidence of ABP-215 as a high-quality biosimilar to bevacizumab for use in Japan.
Samsung BioLogics Could Be Delisted From the Stock Market Over Fraud
November 17th 2018Samsung BioLogics, parent company of the biosimilar development business Samsung Bioepis, has been fined by the Republic of Korea’s financial regulatory body, The Securities and Futures Commission, after the commission ruled that Samsung had committed fraud.
Research Underscores Rituximab's Utility in Treating MS
November 15th 2018Rituximab is frequently used off-label as a treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) because it induces the depletion of circulating B-cell and T-cell lymphocytes and targets CD20 protein in B cells that are responsible for the production of antibodies.
Does Biosimilar Infliximab Have a Role After Secondary Loss of Response to Its Reference?
November 15th 2018Results of a small Greek observational study suggest that biosimilar infliximab may be an effective alternative for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who have active disease and experienced a loss of response to innovator infliximab (Remicade).
US Drug Prescription Rates Influenced by Race, State Healthcare Laws, and Wealth
November 14th 2018The best predictors of which US counties’ patients are most likely to be prescribed higher-priced drugs are income, healthcare costs, and access to exercise opportunities, according to a new study published online in Nature Communications.
First-Line Bevacizumab More Effective in MBC Not Previously Treated with Taxanes
November 14th 2018Among long-term responders, first-line bevacizumab-based therapy is more effective in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who were not previously treated with taxanes, a recent Spanish study suggests.
Eye on Pharma: Innovent Seeks Chinese Regulatory Approval for Biosimilar Adalimumab
November 13th 2018Innovent Biologics, a China-based biopharmaceutical company, announced that its new drug application for its proposed adalimumab biosimilar IBI303, referencing Humira, was accepted by the National Medical Products Administration.
Research Demonstrates Biosimilars' Increasing Role in Cancer Treatment
November 13th 2018During this week’s International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 2018 European meeting, the role of biosimilars in oncology is the subject of several research presentations, all of which underscore the importance of these agents in increasing patient access and driving down costs.
Multiple Studies Highlight Economic Benefits of Biosimilar Infliximab
November 13th 2018This week, healthcare economics stakeholders have gathered in Barcelona, Spain, for the 2018 annual European meeting of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. During the meeting, research teams from around the globe are presenting findings that support the use of biosimilar infliximab as a cost-saving measure.
Researchers Present Findings on Adherence Risk Factors, Outcomes of Early Disease Control in IBD
November 12th 2018When treating any disease, adherence is key. Specifically, however, in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), adhering to biologic therapy is critical in the management of these diseases, as previous research has demonstrated that a medication possession ratio (MPR) of less than 0.86 significantly increases the risk of disease flare.