Abstract
Purpose :
While the TNF-alpha inhibitor infliximab has a well-established efficacy in controlling refractory uveitis, the efficacy of biosimilar alternatives of infliximab is less clear. To better understand the impact of biosimilar use in uveitis treatment, we conducted a retrospective before and after comparison of uveitis patients exposed to both originator and biosimilar infliximab, including a greater number of biosimilar varieties than evaluated in prior investigations.
Methods :
Uveitis patients (n = 8) at a single institution who were treated first with originator infliximab and later with infliximab-dyyb, -abda, or -axxq met inclusion criteria for this study. Retrospective data collection included patient demographics, uveitis disease activity indicators (anterior chamber cell and flare, vitreous haze, scleritis), and surrogate markers of inflammation (infliximab dose or interval changes, use of other immunomodulatory therapies). Statistical analysis was conducted in RStudio. Logistic regressions and Wilcoxon tests were performed to assess the relationships of demographic factors, inflammatory disease indicators, and visual acuity between drug treatment periods.
Results :
No difference in inflammatory disease indicators was observed across infliximab originator and biosimilar treatment periods (P > 0.05). A significant decrease in visual acuity was recorded during the infliximab biosimilar treatment period (P = 0.003).
Conclusions :
Infliximab originator and infliximab biosimilars demonstrated comparable short-term efficacy in the treatment of patients with uveitis. Continued maturation of cataract across the originator and biosimilar treatment periods confounded the trend of decreased visual acuity during biosimilar infliximab use.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.