Utah to Pay Public Employees to Fill Prescriptions For High-Cost Drugs in Mexico
October 30th 2018The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that public employees in the state of Utah could be paid by their insurance plan to fill prescriptions for high-cost drugs in Mexico instead of in their local pharmacies.
Study: New Patients Treated With CT-P13 Discontinued Treatment More Often
October 30th 2018A recent population-based study examined the prescribing and utilization of CT-P13 versus the reference infliximab in infliximab-naïve patients and found that discontinuation and switching were more common among patients who began therapy with the biosimilar.
Biosimilar Filgrastim Proves Noninferior to Reference in PBCM
October 29th 2018A recent study presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Blood Transfusion Society, held in Brighton, United Kingdom from October 3-5, 2018, sought to determine the impact of introducing biosimilar filgrastim (sold in the United Kingdom as Zarzio) on the number of patients who were able to achieve target CD34 yield in peripheral blood stem cell mobilization (PBCM).
As Humira Biosimilars Advance, AbbVie's Upadacitinib Outperforms Adalimumab in Treating RA
October 29th 2018The arrival of biosimilar adalimumab in European markets has been cause for enthusiasm among those seeking greater patient access and lower costs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, AbbVie (maker of the reference adalimumab, Humira) has revealed that its oral Janus kinase inhibitor, upadacitinib, outperformed both placebo and adalimumab in a phase 3 study.
Largest Study to Date in Patients With IBD Finds Switch to CT-P13 Safe and Effective
October 29th 2018While real-world data, such as those derived from the NOR-SWITCH study, have been reassuring about the feasibility of switching patients with inflammatory diseases from reference infliximab (Remicade) to biosimilar CT-P13 (sold as Inflectra and Remsima), some ambiguous data in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have raised questions among clinicians about switching in the indications of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.
Secukinumab Expands Label in EU, Approved to Increase Dosing in Treatment of PsA
October 27th 2018Secukinumab’s growing number of indications and its body of positive data may help it to compete for a substantial share of the inflammatory disease market against an increasing number of US- and EU-approved biosimilars, including 4 recently launched adalimumab biosimilars in the European Union.
Stakeholders Respond to the US Administration's International Pricing Index Proposal
October 27th 2018Yesterday, the Trump administration released a new plan aimed at reducing Medicare’s costs for prescription drugs. Under the plan, CMS would be able to set its prices for some drugs, including biologics, based on the prices paid in other nations. Since the announcement, several stakeholders have spoken out about the proposed change.
Trump Administration Proposes International Pricing Index for Medicare Part B Drugs
October 26th 2018On Thursday, the Trump administration unveiled a new plan that it hopes will reduce Medicare’s costs for prescription drugs. Under the plan, announced by President Donald Trump in a speech made at HHS, CMS could set its prices for some drugs—including high-cost biologics—based on the prices paid in other nations.
Innovent to Initiate Trial of Biosimilar Bevacizumab Plus PD-1 Inhibitor
October 24th 2018China-based drug maker Innovent Biologics has revealed that China’s National Medical Products Administration has approved its application to test a combination therapy comprising a proposed biosimilar bevacizumab product, IBI305, plus sintilimab, an anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody.
Mylan and Biocon's Ogivri Receives Positive CHMP Opinion
October 19th 2018Mylan and Biocon’s biosimilar trastuzumab, which will be sold as Ogivri and which references Herceptin, today received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).
Patients With RA Could Pay More if Part B Drugs Move to Part D
October 19th 2018New research from Avalere suggests that moving Part B drugs into Part D could result in higher out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) unless policy changes are made to reduce Part D cost sharing.
Administering Nivestym at Home Is Effective and Well-Received by Patients
October 18th 2018A recent study provides insight into the feasibility of at-home administration of biosimilar filgrastim—Pfizer’s recently approved Nivestym—an option that has the potential to reduce patient burden associated with hospital administration.
Ireland's MMP To Review Anti-TNF Drugs in a Push to Prescribe Best-Value Biologics
October 17th 2018Ireland’s Medicines Management Program (MMP), a body that promotes cost-effective drug prescribing, has opened a consultation related to its roadmap for prescribing best-value biologics in the Irish healthcare setting. Under the roadmap, the MMP will review the use of currently reimbursed anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies, which represent the highest-expenditure category for Ireland’s reimbursement plan.
On the Eve of Humira's Patent Expiry, Europe Prepares for Biosimilar Adalimumab
October 15th 2018October 16 marks European patent expiry for AbbVie’s blockbuster anti–tumor necrosis factor drug, adalimumab (Humira), and multiple competitors stand ready to launch their biosimilar products on, or shortly after, that date.
Patients With Pemphigus Vulgaris May Benefit From Early Rituximab
October 14th 2018Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare immune-mediated skin disorder, typically occurring in middle-aged and older adults, that involves painful blistering of the skin and mucous membranes. While many patients are well controlled on systemic corticosteroid treatment, steroid-sparing therapy can be desirable for treating moderate to severe forms of the disease, and rituximab is one such agent to show promise in this indication.
Merck Terminates Follow-on Insulin Agreement with Samsung Bioepis
October 13th 2018According to a filing made in the Republic of Korea, Samsung Bioepis has disclosed that Merck has terminated the companies' development and commercialization agreement for a follow-on insulin glargine product referencing Sanofi’s Lantus.