Study Examines Effectiveness of Biosimilar for Inflammatory Arthritis

Switching from Remicade (infliximab) to the biosimilar Remsima CT-P13 did not negatively impact disease activity in patients with inflammatory arthritis, according to the findings of a recent study. 

The observational study included a cohort of 802 patients enrolled in the DANBIO registry (median age 55 years, 51% women). Of the patients included in the study, 403 had rheumatoid arthritis, 120 had psoriatic arthritis, and 279 had axial spondyloarthritis. Researchers analyzed disease activity 3 months before and after the switch from originator to biosimilar and followed patients for an average of 413 days to determine retention rates.

Prior to the switch, the median duration of infliximab treatment was 6.8 years.
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The researchers found that disease activity 3 months before and 3 months after the switch to CT-P13 were similar. In addition, the crude 1-year retention rate for CT-P13 was 84.1% and was similar to the historic infliximab cohort, and the adjusted absolute retention rates were 83.4% and 86.8%, respectively. Those who had taken infliximab prior to the switch for more than 5 years had longer retention rates.

Overall, 132 patients withdrew from treatment, of which 71 (54%) patients did so due to lack of effect and 27 (28%) patients did so due to adverse events.

“In 802 arthritis patients treated with [infliximab] for median >6 years, a nationwide non-medical switch to CT-P13 had no negative impact on disease activity. Adjusted 1-year CT-P13 retention rate was slightly lower than for [infliximab]in a historic cohort,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Glintborg B, Sørensen IJ, Loft AG, et al. A nationwide non-medical switch from originator infliximab to biosimilar CT-P13 in 802 patients with inflammatory arthritis: 1-year clinical outcomes from the DANBIO registry [published online May 4, 2017]. BMJ. https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210742