Treat-To-Target Principles Not Followed in Many Patients With RA
June 21st 2018Guidelines recommend that disease activity should be assessed every 1 to 3 months in patients with high or moderate disease activity, and every 6 to 12 months in those with low disease activity or remission, but implementation of these principles has not been well evaluated in the United States.
Anti-CD20 Agents Provide New Therapeutic Approaches to Neurological Diseases
June 21st 2018During the fourth congress of the European Academy of Neurology, held in Lisbon, Portugal, from June 16 to 19, researchers presented on the roles of both existing and investigational anti-CD20 drugs in treating neurological diseases.
Neurological Complications of Anti-TNF Agents Are Rare, but Most Common With Infliximab
June 20th 2018Anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents, widely used in rheumatology and gastroenterology, carry some safety risks. While the risk of infection or malignancy are common concerns, neurological complications, while rare, are also possible.
Researchers Report on Biosimilar Interferon Beta-1A in Treating MS
June 19th 2018During the fourth congress of the European Academy of Neurology, held in Lisbon, Portugal, from June 16 to 19, researchers reported on CinnaGen’s biosimilar interferon beta 1A drug, CinnoVex, in treating multiple sclerosis (MS).
Eye on Pharma: Progress for Celltrion on Trastuzumab and Subcutaneous Infliximab Biosimilars
June 18th 2018Korean drug maker Celltrion has announced that it has resubmitted its Biologics License Application for CT-P6, a trastuzumab molecule referencing Herceptin. Separately, Celltrion announced new data for its proposed subcutaneous formulation of its flagship biosimilar, CT-P13, an infliximab biosimilar referencing Remicade, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Survey Shows Trust in Healthcare Systems Declining Globally
June 18th 2018The survey found that, for the United States specifically, in the informed public segment, there was a 20% drop in the general trust in healthcare, giving the United States market the second biggest drop following Colombia. Globally, trust declined in 16 of 28 markets studied, noting an average 4% decline in trust in healthcare globally.
Assessing the Next Wave of Biosimilars
June 18th 2018Ever since biosimilars arrived in the United States in 2015 with the launch of Sandoz’s Zarxio, a biosimilar of Amgen’s Neupogen, reference product manufacturers and biosimilar manufacturers have locked horns on pricing, patents and access policies—and the competition remains fierce. Now the industry is preparing for the next wave of biosimilars, which will launch from 2020 to 2030. At least 19 branded biologics, which grossed more than $40 billion worldwide in 2017, have around 80 biosimilars from 39 manufacturers under development in the United States and European Union.
Spanish Study: Switching to Biosimilar Infliximab in IBD Is Safe, Effective at 12 Months
June 18th 2018Researchers from Spain, where biosimilar use is encouraged as a way to save on costs and expand access to biologic therapies, recently reported on a multicenter prospective observational study in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who switched from reference infliximab to a biosimilar, CT-P13 (Inflectra, Remsima).
More Biosimilars on the Market Could Decrease Drug Prices, Panelists Say
June 16th 2018In a webcast hosted by the Alliance for Health Policy that took place earlier this week, Robert Langreth, senior health reporter for Bloomberg News, Dora Hughes, MD, MPH, senior policy advisor at Sidley Austin, LLP, and Sameer Awsare, MD, associate executive director of the Permanente Medical Group at Kaiser Permanente, came together to discuss the best ways to bring down the steadily increasing drug prices in the United States. The panel was moderated by Mary Ella Payne, RN, MSPH, president of the Alliance for Health Policy.
ACR Stresses Pharmacovigilance and Postmarket Monitoring in the Biosimilar Era
June 15th 2018This week, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) released a new position statement on the importance of pharmacovigilance and the critical need to continue monitoring new drugs after they reach the market.
European Study: Patients Remain on Ineffective RA Treatment for Too Long
June 12th 2018If European League Against Rheumatism guidelines are followed, when a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) does not reach remission or a state of low disease activity after 6 months of treatment, then the patient’s treatment should be modified regardless of the drug therapy being used (biologic or small molecule).
FDA Finalizes Guidance on Bioanalytical Method Validation
June 12th 2018The FDA has released a final guidance document intended to help industry members develop bioanalytical methods and validations that are required by the FDA to ensure the quality of an assay and the reliability of the data it generates.
Effective Infliximab Treatment for CD Is Associated With Improved Mental Health
June 11th 2018Crohn disease (CD) can involve physical, psychological, and social impairments that negatively impact patients’ quality of life, and high levels of anxiety and depression have been observed in patients with CD.
Rituximab Granted FDA Approval to Treat Pemphigus Vulgaris
June 8th 2018The FDA has approved Genentech’s innovator rituximab (Rituxan) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe pemphigus vulgaris (PV). This expanded indication makes the drug the first biologic approved for the treatment of PV, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the skin and mucous membranes with progressive blistering.