Switching from Adalimumab Originator to Biosimilar: Clinical Experience in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Metadata
Show full item recordAuthor
Montero Vílchez, Trinidad; Cuenca Barrales, Carlos; Rodríguez Tejero, Andrea; Martínez López, Antonio; Arias Santiago, Salvador Antonio; Molina Leyva, AlejandroEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Adalimumab Biosimilar Hidradenitis suppurativa Switching
Date
2022-02-15Referencia bibliográfica
Montero-Vilchez, T... [et al.]. Switching from Adalimumab Originator to Biosimilar: Clinical Experience in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 1007. [https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11041007]
Abstract
Adalimumab is currently the only biological medicine approved by the FDA for the treatment
of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The breakout of biosimilar drugs made them more accessible
due to their impact on pharmacoeconomics. However, packaging, formulation, or excipients are
unique characteristics of each drug. In that way, switching from adalimumab originator to biosimilar
and between biosimilars could have implications in the clinical practice. The objective of this study is
to describe our clinical experience in switching from adalimumab originator to biosimilar and switching
back again. A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted that included seventeen
patients with HS treated with adalimumab originator in the maintenance phase, and that achieved
Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR), who were switched to adalimumab biosimilar
for no medical reasons. The reason for the change was to improve pharmacoeconomic efficiency,
following our hospital policies on biologics. Median duration with adalimumab originator treatment
before switching was 48 weeks. After switching, 41.2% of patients maintained HiSCR response
without additional issues, while 58.8% (10/17) reported problems after the change. Switching from
adalimumab originator to biosimilar in well-controlled patients could imply problems in efficacy and
adherence. Switching back to adalimumab originator appears to solve most of the problems, but
some patients can lose confidence in the drug and discontinue it. It would be worthwhile to evaluate
the benefit–risk ratio individually when switching an HS patient to adalimumab biosimilar.