Infliximab biosimilar shows positive results in hidradenitis suppurativa treatment

Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa who were treated with the biosimilar infliximab-abda experienced similar improvement in their condition as those who received infliximab, according to a study.

“Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Symptom onset typically occurs in the third and fourth decades of life,” Linnea Lackstrom Westerkam, BA, of University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, and colleagues wrote. “Current treatment options include surgery, laser treatment, antibiotics and immunomodulator therapies.”

The TNF-alpha inhibitor adalimumab has been approved by the FDA for HS treatment, while infliximab, another TNF-alpha inhibitor, has been used off label for treatment.

The retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the clinical response of the infliximab biosimilar on HS.

Of 34 subjects, 20 received infliximab, while 14 received infliximab-abda. Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response was achieved by 12 patients (60%) in the infliximab treatment group and 10 patients (71%) in the biosimilar group, which was not a significant difference.

“This study provides valuable data for administration of IFX and IFX-A in treating HS,” the authors wrote. “The significant and similar improvements associated with primary and secondary outcome measures in patients treated with IFX and IFX-A are consistent with those in previous studies of IFX administration for treatment of HS.”

The study’s small sample size and retrospective nature limited its scope, and further studies are warranted.

“Given the increasing number of biosimilar drugs becoming available, understanding their safety and effectiveness across indications is vital,” the authors wrote.