In a recent study conducted in Spain, researchers found that patients with inflammatory arthritis who were prescribed biosimilar versions of etanercept or adalimumab were more likely to continue taking them compared to the originator products. This has significant implications for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis and sheds light on the preferences of patients when it comes to biologic therapies.
The study conducted by Martínez-Vidal et al. focused on patients enrolled in the Spanish registry called BIOBADASER, which includes individuals with rheumatic diseases prescribed biologic or targeted synthetic drugs. The analysis included 4,162 patients who were prescribed either subcutaneous etanercept or adalimumab from 2016 to 2023. The findings revealed that the discontinuation rates over 2 to 3 years of follow-up were significantly lower for biosimilar versions compared to originator products, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.84 in favor of biosimilars.
Despite the lower discontinuation rates for biosimilars, the study did not pinpoint specific reasons why patients were more likely to continue taking them. The two most common medical reasons for discontinuation — adverse effects and lack of efficacy — were not significantly different between the two types of drugs. This raises questions about what factors may be influencing patients’ decisions to continue or discontinue treatment with biosimilars versus originator products.
The findings from this study have important implications for clinical practice, particularly in the context of real-world decision-making regarding the use of biosimilars in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis. The data suggests that starting a biosimilar may lead to longer treatment retention, which could have positive outcomes for patients in terms of disease management and overall health.
In addition to using a biosimilar instead of the originator product, the study identified other factors that predicted longer treatment retention. These included longer disease duration and concomitant use of methotrexate. Conversely, using the biologics as second- or later-line treatment was associated with a higher risk of discontinuation. These factors may be important considerations for clinicians when making treatment decisions for patients with inflammatory arthritis.
Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the use of biosimilars in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis. While the reasons for patients’ preferences for biosimilars over originator products are not entirely clear, the data suggests that biosimilars may offer advantages in terms of treatment retention. Further research is needed to better understand the factors influencing patients’ decisions and to optimize the use of biosimilars in clinical practice.
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