title: Biopharmaceuticals: Reference Products and Biosimilars to Treat Inflammatory Diseases.
abstract: Biopharmaceuticals are primarily therapeutic proteins developed to perform specific functions by acting on the disease pathophysiology. Compared with low-molecular chemically synthesized drugs, production of biopharmaceuticals is much more complex and routes of administration and pharmacokinetics differ. Biopharmaceuticals are blockbusters in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatic diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases, and the introduction of these drugs has revolutionized treatment. Disadvantages include their high costs and the fact that they can evoke antidrug antibodies leading to decreased efficacy. Treatment can be optimized through the development of dosing algorithms and cost can be reduced by biosimilars, after a comparable biological activity, safety, and efficacy have been demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; †Division of Neurology and Multiple Sclerosis Regional Center, AOU San Luigi, Orbassano, Turin, Italy; and Departments of ‡Rheumatology and §Pharmacovigilance, Université François-Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gils
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertolotto
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mulleman
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bejan-Angoulvant
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Declerck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001702:Biopharmaceutics; D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001688:Biological Products; D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals