Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Feb;77(2):165-174.
doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-211937. Epub 2017 Sep 2.

Consensus-based recommendations for the use of biosimilars to treat rheumatological diseases

Jonathan Kay  1 , Monika M Schoels  2 , Thomas Dörner  3 , Paul Emery  4 , Tore K Kvien  5 , Josef S Smolen  2   6 , Ferdinand C Breedveld  7 ; Task Force on the Use of Biosimilars to Treat Rheumatological Diseases
Collaborators, Affiliations

Consensus-based recommendations for the use of biosimilars to treat rheumatological diseases

Jonathan Kay et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2018 Feb.

Abstract

The study aimed to develop evidence-based recommendations regarding the evaluation and use of biosimilars to treat rheumatological diseases. The task force comprised an expert group of specialists in rheumatology, dermatology and gastroenterology, and pharmacologists, patients and a regulator from ten countries. Four key topics regarding biosimilars were identified through a process of discussion and consensus. Using a Delphi process, specific questions were then formulated to guide a systematic literature review. Relevant English-language publications through November 2016 were searched systematically for each topic using Medline; selected papers and pertinent reviews were examined for additional relevant references; and abstracts presented at the 2015 and 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) annual scientific meetings were searched for those about biosimilars. The experts used evidence obtained from these studies to develop a set of overarching principles and consensus recommendations. The level of evidence and grade of recommendation were determined for each. By the search strategy, 490 references were identified. Of these, 29 full-text papers were included in the systematic review. Additionally, 20 abstracts were retrieved from the ACR and EULAR conference abstract databases. Five overarching principles and eight consensus recommendations were generated, encompassing considerations regarding clinical trials, immunogenicity, extrapolation of indications, switching between bio-originators and biosimilars and among biosimilars, and cost. The level of evidence and grade of recommendation for each varied according to available published evidence. Five overarching principles and eight consensus recommendations regarding the evaluation and use of biosimilars to treat rheumatological diseases were developed using research-based evidence and expert opinion.

Keywords: Dmards (biologic); anti-tnf; treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: JK has received research grants paid to his institution from AbbVie, Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, Pfizer and UCB, and has provided expert advice to AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Crescendo Bioscience, Eli Lilly and Company, Epirus Biopharmaceuticals, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Roche Laboratories and UCB. TD has received research grants or iDMC honoraria paid to his institution from AbbVie, Ablynx, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Samsung Bioepis, Roche Laboratories, Sanofi and UCB, and has provided expert advice to and/or had speaking engagements for AbbVie, Ablynx, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene, Epirus Biopharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer/Hospira, Samsung Bioepis, Roche Laboratories, Sanofi and UCB. PE has received research grants paid to his institution from and has provided expert advice to AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Roche Laboratories and UCB. TKK has received research grants paid to his institution from AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer/Wyeth, Roche Laboratories and UCB, and has provided expert advice to and/or had speaking engagements for AbbVie, Amgen, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celltrion Healthcare, Epirus Biopharmaceuticals, Merck Serono SA, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mundipharma, Orion, Pfizer/Hospira, Pfizer/Wyeth, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Roche Laboratories and UCB. JSS has received research grants paid to his institution from AbbVie, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Biotech, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer and Roche Laboratories, and has provided expert advice to and/or had speaking engagements for AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Astro; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene, Celltrion Healthcare, Chugai, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, ILTOO, Janssen Biotech, Medimmune, MSD, Novartis-Sandoz, Pfizer, Roche Laboratories, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi and UCB. FCB has provided expert advice to and/or had speaking engagements for AbbVie, Amgen, Epirus Biopharmaceuticals, Merck Sharp & Dohme and Pfizer.

Comment in

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances