The availability of biosimilars to treat inflammatory diseases has generated concern about changing patients from a bio-originator to its biosimilar to save costs. Studies published in 2019 support the effectiveness and safety of ‘nonmedical switching’ and highlight the benefits of communicating information about biosimilars to patients in a positive light.
Key advances
The safety and efficacy of switching from infliximab to the infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 is similar to continued treatment with either infliximab or the biosimilar4.
Disease activity and flare rates do not differ between the 3 months immediately before and the 3 months immediately after ‘nonmedical switching’ from etanercept to the etanercept biosimilar SB4 (ref.5).
Presenting information about biosimilars to patients in a positive light increases patient acceptance of the biosimilar and might improve persistence of treatment with the biosimilar6.
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J.K. has received research support (paid to the University of Massachusetts Medical School) from Gilead Sciences, Pfizer and UCB and has served as a consultant to Alvotech Suisse, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celltrion Healthcare, Horizon Therapeutics, Kolon TissueGene, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz and UCB.
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Kay, J. Overcoming barriers to biosimilars in inflammatory arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 16, 65–66 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-019-0359-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-019-0359-7
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