Loading

logo

Current Rheumatology Research

ISSN: 2693-7204

Mini Review Open Access
Volume 2 | Issue 1 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.46439/rheumatology.2.010

Non-medical switching from originators to biosimilars in patients with rheumatic disease in routine clinical care: what is the best strategy?

Giuseppe Provenzano1,*, Chiara Arcuri1
  • 1Rheumatology Unit, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, Palermo, Italy
+ Affiliations - Affiliations

Corresponding Author

Giuseppe Provenzano, giuseppe.provenzano5@tin.it

Received Date: November 02, 2020

Accepted Date: November 23, 2020

Citation:

Provenzano G, Arcuri C. Non-medical switching from originators to biosimilars in patients with rheumatic disease in routine clinical care: what is the best strategy? Curr Rheumatol Res 2021. 2(1):1-4.


Copyright: © 2021 Provenzano G, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are common rheumatic diseases leading to irreversible joint damage and increase in mortality. The introduction of highly effective biologic drugs has resulted in substantial benefit in the treatment of these diseases, but these therapies take a high toll on healthcare systems. The recent availability of biosimilars, biologic drugs which are highly similar to their respective originator products, is changing the treatment landscape allowing substantial reduction in costs and potentially larger access to this therapeutic option. In this scenario switching stable patients from originators to biosimilars may represent a reasonable and cost-saving treatment strategy. The safety and efficacy of non-medical switching have been evaluated in randomized controlled and real-world evidence studies, with conflicting results and the nocebo effect is a well-recognized phenomenon. The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence in this area trying to delineate which might be the best strategy in routine clinical care.

Keywords

Biosimilar, Biologic drug, TNF inhibitor, Non-medical switch, Nocebo effect, Patients

Recommended Articles

Neodymium:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy in the lateral decubitus position

Here we report a novel method of performing a Neodyminium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy in an adult patient, unable to tolerate the procedure awake with topical anaesthesia in the outpatient clinic setting. The procedure was performed by altering the chin rest and arms of the Nd:YAG laser machine so that the procedure could be undertaken in an anaesthetized patient in the operating theatre, in the lateral decubitus position, with the laser machine upright in its normal position.

Presbyopia correcting IOLs and the ocular surface disease… The good, the bad and the ugly

The last two decades were especially fruitful for the refractive surgeons and for the industry who have been showing tremendous development in both understanding and meeting patients’ desire for spectacle independence. Ever since the first trials from Dr. Kenneth Hoffer with his early 1980’s effort in producing a multifocal IOL to the latest achievements from different companies in putting trifocals and EDOF optics to the market.

How many mutations does it take to make a uveal melanoma?

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare cancer that affects the choroid and, less frequently, the ciliary body or the iris (for recent reviews see [1-3]). Despite a profound knowledge of the oncogenic mechanisms behind UM tumorigenesis and despite an accurate cytogenetic and molecular prognosis, only limited advances have been made in UM therapy.

MSICS is a Simple Solution for a Big Problem

Manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) is a sutureless cataract surgery that has multiple advantages over traditional phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) procedures. SICS became the procedure of choice for international ophthalmology, where the microscopes and operating room can be more challenging, in addition to the more advanced pathology often seen.

Surgical smoke and SARS-CoV-2 transmission

The protection of health care workers from nosocomial infection is a paramount consideration in the current pandemic involving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Not only is prevention of viral transmission the most effective means to lessen the public health impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but also both quarantine and illness – that disproportionately affect health care workers – have devastating effects on the ability of hospitals to adequately care for increased patient loads.

Full Text
Cite
Download PDF
Author Information X