Top in rheumatology: Inflammatory disease biosimilars, depression in patients with lupus

In October, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cyltezo was approved by the FDA as the first interchangeable biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira.

With pharmacists allowed to substitute Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm) for Humira (adalimumab) without the need for the prescriber to alter the prescription, the issue of whether the cost of development was worth the price alongside incoming competitors was the top story in rheumatology last week.

Another top story explored the persistent prevalence of depression in patients with lupus, despite therapies and medications for mood disorders and pain.

Read these and more top stories in rheumatology below:

Cyltezo 'paid the price' for interchangeable biosimilar approval: Will it be worth it?

In October, Boehringer Ingelheim’s adalimumab-adbm secured a landmark FDA approval as the first interchangeable biosimilar to AbbVie’s blockbuster drug, Humira — but, as rivals scramble for second place, will the designation be worth the price? Read more.

Depression persists in most lupus patients despite therapies, changes in disease activity

The majority of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus experience persistent depression despite disease activity changes and use of medications for mood disorders, pain and lupus, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research. Read more.

Few randomized clinical trials support corticotropin injection for most indications

Few randomized clinical trials support using repository corticotropin injection for most FDA-approved indications, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, optic neuritis and nephrotic syndrome, according to researchers. Read more.

IL-1, IL-6 inhibitors trigger eosinophilia, systemic symptoms in Still's disease subset

A subset of patients with Still’s disease develop drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms to interleukin-1 and IL-6 inhibitors, with strong associations among those with common HLA-DRB1*15 haplotypes, according to data. Read more.

Dactylitis signals greater disease burden in early psoriatic arthritis

Dactylitis indicates a more severe disease phenotype independently linked to increased disease burden, with greater bone erosion, in early DMARD-naïve psoriatic arthritis, according to data published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Read more.