title: The infliximab biosimilar in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The infliximab originator's patent recently expired, leading to the production of biosimilar versions of the drug. The biosimilars' efficacy was not tested on patients with psoriasis but most regulatory authorities approved their use in psoriasis because of an extrapolation of data from studies conducted in other diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to describe the use of the infliximab biosimilar (Remsima; CT-P13) in patients with psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Objective (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) and subjective (visual analog pain scale) measurements of disease activity were collected in 2 cohorts of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: cohort 1 patients switched from the infliximab originator to the infliximab biosimilar; and cohort 2 patients were infliximab-naïve and started on the infliximab biosimilar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed no changes of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and visual analog pain scale scores in 30 patients who switched from the infliximab originator to the biosimilar. Four of 5 infliximab-naïve patients who started infliximab biosimilar treatment achieved 75% improvement or better from baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score at the end of the induction phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Number of patients and length of follow-up was limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with psoriasis taking infliximab originator treatment can switch to the infliximab biosimilar without experiencing a significant change in clinical response or additional adverse events. The use of the infliximab biosimilar could reduce the growing pressure on health care budgets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dapavo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Academic Teaching Hospital, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria; School of Medicine, Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vujic
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fierro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quaglino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: martina.sanlorenzo@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanlorenzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals; D000069285:Infliximab
keywords: CT-P13; Remicade; Remsima; biosimilar; infliximab; psoriasis