GA Morris et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2022; 28: 531-538. Increasing Biosimilar Utilization at a Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center and Associated Cost Savings: Show Me the Money

Key findings:

• Biosimilar utilization initiation increased from a baseline of 1% in June 2019 to 96% by February 2021 among eligible patients; 20% of all patients (n-98) had insurance which preferred originator product
• Estimated cost savings over the project duration were nearly $381,000 (average sales price) over the 20 month study

My take: The introduction of biosimilars have resulted in huge cost savings. In addition, for infliximab, the originator product price has also dropped substantially (more than 60% in some locations)

J Hanzel et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2022; 28: 495-501. Open Access: Multiple Switches From the Originator Infliximab to Biosimilars Is Effective and Safe in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study 

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter cohort study of adult IBD patients (n=176) who underwent 2 switches from the originator IFX to CT-P13 to SB2 (group 1), 1 switch from CT-P13 to SB2 (group 2), and 1 switch from the originator IFX to CT-P13 (group 3).

Key findings:

• At 12 months after the most recent switch 76.9% (40 of 52, group 1), 65.7% (46 of 70, group 2) and 76.9% (20 of 26, group 3) of patients were in clinical remission. Treatment persistence at 12 months was 85.0%, 87.0%, and 70.1%, respectively.
• There were no significant differences in the rate of clinical, CRP, FC remission, or treatment persistence at 12 months between the 3 groups.

My take: This study did not identify detrimental effects from multiple successive switching and switching between biosimilars of IFX. Longer followup and more clinical experience will be needed to confirm these findings.