Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

IBD

To switch or not to switch: that is the biosimilar question

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 14, pages 508–509 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Biosimilar monoclonal antibodies are now being accepted in clinical practice by IBD specialists. However, switching patients already undergoing originator biologic treatment to biosimilars has been debated due to lack of controlled studies. The NOR-SWITCH study now provides novel clinical evidence in switching from originator to biosimilar in patients with IBD.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Danese, S., Bonovas, S. & Peyrin-Biroulet, L. Biosimilars in IBD: from theory to practice. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 14, 22–31 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Weise, M., Kurki, P., Wolff-Holz, E., Bielsky, M. C. & Schneider, C. K. Biosimilars: the science of extrapolation. Blood 124, 3191–3196 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. European Medicines Agency. Guideline on similar biological medicinal products. CHMP/437/04. EMA http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Scientific_guideline/2009/09/WC500003517.pdf (2005).

  4. Danese, S., Fiorino, G. & Michetti, P. Changes in biosimilar knowledge among European Crohn's Colitis Organization (ECCO) members: an updated survey. J. Crohns Colitis 10, 1362–1365 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Peyrin-Biroulet, L., Lonnfors, S., Roblin, X., Danese, S. & Avedano, L. Patient perspectives on biosimilars: a survey by the European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations. J. Crohns Colitis. 11, 128–133 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Jørgensen, K. K. et al. Switching from originator infliximab to biosimilar CT-P13 compared with maintained treatment with originator infliximab (NOR-SWITCH): a 52-week, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial. Lancet 389, 2304–2316 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Danese, S. et al. ECCO position statement on the use of biosimilars for inflammatory bowel disease — an update. J. Crohns Colitis 11, 26–34 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Waller, J., Sullivan, E., Piercy, J., Black, C. M. & Kachroo, S. Assessing physician and patient acceptance of infliximab biosimilars in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis across Germany. Patient Prefer. Adherence 11, 519–530 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Razanskaite, V. et al. Biosimilar infliximab in inflammatory bowel disease: outcomes of a managed switching programme. J. Crohns Colitis 11, 690–696 (2017).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, IBD Center, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089, Milan, Italy

    Silvio Danese

  2. Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology and Inserm U954, University Hospital of Nancy, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet

Authors
  1. Silvio Danese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Silvio Danese.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

S.D. has served as a speaker, a consultant and an advisory board member for Abbvie, Allergan, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Celltrion, Ferring, Hospira, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, MSD, Mundipharma, Pfizer, Sandoz, Takeda, Tigenix, UCB Pharma and Vifor. L.P.-B. has received consulting fees from Abbvie, Amgen, Biogaran, Biogen, Boerhinger-Ingelheim, Bristol–Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Ferring, Forward Pharma, Genentech, H.A.C. Pharma, Hospira, Index Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Lilly, Lycera, Merck, Mitsubishi, Norgine, Pharmacosmos, Pfizer, Pilège, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Takeda, Therakos, Tillots, UCB Pharma and Vifor, and lecture fees from Abbvie, Ferring, H.A.C. Pharma, Janssen, Merck, Mitsubishi, Norgine, Takeda, Therakos, Tillots and Vifor.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Danese, S., Peyrin-Biroulet, L. To switch or not to switch: that is the biosimilar question. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 14, 508–509 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2017.86

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2017.86

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research