Infliximab
Practice-level policies ‘likely key drivers’ of infliximab biosimilar uptake
WASHINGTON — Biosimilar infliximab use is significantly more common among new users vs. those who started with the originator, and particularly less likely among Medicare beneficiaries, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.
Infliximab bests cyclophosphamide as first-line treatment of severe Behçet’s syndrome
Patients with severe Behçet’s syndrome who received infliximab demonstrated better odds of achieving complete response at 22 weeks compared with those who used cyclophosphamide, according to head-to-head data published in NEJM Evidence.
‘No meaningful difference’: Zymfentra monotherapy as effective as combined therapy for IBD
PHILADELPHIA — Zymfentra as monotherapy was no more effective when combined with immunosuppressants for maintenance therapy in patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, according to post-hoc analysis presented here.
Median survival of first-line TNF inhibitor in ankylosing spondylitis nearly 11 years
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis starting their first TNF inhibitor, and who stayed on said treatment for at least 2 years, demonstrated a median drug survival period of 10.6 years, with 24% discontinuing, according to data.
Rheumatologists should play ‘active role’ in sarcoidosis management
SAN DIEGO — Rheumatologists may be the best clinicians to manage the challenges presented by sarcoidosis, which include a complex disease course and few treatment options, said a presenter at the 2024 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology West.
First-line treatment with vedolizumab linked to fewer hospitalizations, surgeries in IBD
The treatment sequence of vedolizumab to adalimumab resulted in the lowest overall incidences of hospitalization and surgery in both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis compared with other biologic treatment sequences, research showed.
Initial dose of infliximab 5 mg/kg ‘should be adequate’ in most cases of acute severe UC
No significant differences were reported in clinical response at day 7 between 5 mg/kg and 10 kg/kg doses of infliximab in acute severe ulcerative colitis, nor were there differences in intensified, accelerated or standard dosing at month 3.
Infliximab biosimilar uptake rapidly increased only after release of a third option
Infliximab biosimilar uptake increased by no more than just 5% annually following the release of its first two biosimilars, but then shot up by 13% to 16% for most patients after a third option emerged, according to data.
Biologics
Biosimilars cost effective vs. leflunomide in rheumatoid arthritis
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have an inadequate response to methotrexate, a treatment sequence beginning with a biosimilar appeared cost-effective compared with leflunomide, according to data published in JAMA Network Open.