Clinical experience presented at the Celltrion Healthcare satellite symposium during UEGW 2014 builds the evidence base for treating patients with IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) with a biosimilar monoclonal antibody (mAb) infliximab.
Infliximab is an anti-TNF therapy for treating patients with IBD1,2, and is considered a therapy for controlling disease symptoms over the long term.3,4
Leading expert, Jørgen Jahnsen, Professor of Gastroenterology, University of Oslo, Norway, reported on his "real-world" clinical experience of treating people with both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis with the first biosimilar mAb anti-TNFα approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and licensed for use in Norway. A statistically significant reduction in disease activity at week fourteen was reported in 46 IBD patients (26 Crohn's and 20 ulcerative colitis) following treatment with three infusions.
Commenting on his experience Prof Jahnsen said, "Whilst biologics have become increasingly important as a treatment option in IBD, they are also expensive which may mean that some patients have had limited access to them. The availability of a biosimilar anti-TNFα could contribute to improving patient access to advanced biologic treatments."
Recent research has shown that, between 2007 and 2020, the use of biosimilars is expected to result in overall savings of between 11.8 billion and 33.4 billion Euros with biosimilar mAbs producing the greatest savings ranging from 1.8 to 20.4 billion Euros. 5
Biologic therapies in IBD are designed to target particular enzymes and proteins that have been proven defective, deficient, or excessive in people with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Biologic agents act selectively, unlike conventional treatment with corticosteroids and other therapies, which tend to suppress the entire immune system and thereby risk producing major side effects. 6