Biosimilars in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Abstract

Over the past 2 decades, biological therapy with monoclonal antibodies targeting tumor necrosis factor-α has become a cornerstone of treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Although clinically effective, the biological therapies remain expensive, and their availability and utilization have been at times limited due to their high costs. Biosimilars are biological products similar to but not identical to the original biological agent or "reference biologic," also called "originator biologic." It is hoped that the use of biosimilars might enable these agents to become more available and, thus, decrease further expenditures related to the use of the original reference agents such as infliximab and adalimumab. In this study, we review the currently available evidence and shortcomings of these data supporting the use of biosimilars for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including their efficacy and safety as related to initiating therapy with biosimilar agents or switching between reference and biosimilar biologic agents.

• Authors: Anna M Buchner, Yecheskel Schneider, Gary R Lichtenstein
• Journal: The American journal of gastroenterology (Am J Gastroenterol) Vol. 116 Issue 1 Pg. 45-56 (01 01 2021) ISSN: 1572-0241 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33110013 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 by The American College of Gastroenterology.

Chemical References

• Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals
• Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
• Infliximab
• Adalimumab

Topics

• Adalimumab (economics, therapeutic use)
• Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals (economics, therapeutic use)
• Drug Costs
• Drug Substitution
• Health Expenditures
• Health Services Accessibility
• Humans
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (drug therapy)
• Infliximab (economics, therapeutic use)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors (therapeutic use)