Adalimumab-Adbm: The First Interchangeable Biosimilar for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to review the pharmacologic and clinical profile of adalimumab-adbm (BI 695501), the first interchangeable biosimilar for treatment of inflammatory diseases. DATA SOURCES: A PubMed search was conducted from inception to December 2021 using the keywords BI 695501 and adalimumab-adbm. Information was also obtained from published abstracts and package inserts. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Phase 1, 2 and 3 studies plus relevant literature on adalimumab-adbm pharmacologic and clinical profile were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Adalimumab-adbm approval was based on a series of phase 3 VOLTAIRE trials, which evaluated the biosimilar's efficacy and safety in the treatment of moderate to severe Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. Interchangeability status was granted based on data from the VOLTAIRE-X trial. The VOLTAIRE and VOLTAIRE-X studies demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety between adalimumab-adbm and reference adalimumab. Common adverse events included infections and injection site reactions. Similar to reference adalimumab, adalimumab-adbm contains black box warnings related to serious infections and malignancy. RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE: Adalimumab-adbm is the first interchangeable biosimilar to be approved for inflammatory diseases and has the potential to improve patient access to treatment while decreasing medication-related costs. However, it will not be commercially available for patient use until 2023 and its adoption into clinical practice may face potential barriers seen with other biosimilars. CONCLUSION: As an interchangeable biosimilar with comparable efficacy and safety to reference adalimumab, adalimumab-adbm is an important advance toward cost-effective management of inflammatory diseases.

COVID-19 vaccine use in immunocompromised patients: A commentary on evidence and recommendations.

PURPOSE: While COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization (EUA) deemed the vaccines to be effective and safe for public use, the phase 3 trials leading to EUA predominantly excluded patients with immunocompromising conditions. Immunocompromised patients make up a significant proportion of the population, and in light of recent mass vaccination efforts, we aim to review current evidence and recommendations of COVID-19 vaccines in 4 patient populations with immunocompromising disorders or conditions: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, solid organ transplantation, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. SUMMARY: Given the evolving data on the safety and efficacy of the approved COVID-19 vaccines in the immunocompromised population, it is vital that pharmacists and other immunizing providers understand the current data and recommendations and provide the public with accurate information. To date, the only immunocompromised subgroup included in phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trials have been those with HIV infection. However, recent retrospective trials have provided reassuring data on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in immunocompromised patients, and the interim analysis of the Moderna phase 3 trial produced promising data on efficacy in HIV-infected patients. Presently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, British Society for Immunology, and various other governmental and professional societies and organizations endorse COVID-19 vaccination in the immunocompromised population. CONCLUSION: While additional data is needed to determine the effects of immunocompromising medical conditions and immunosuppressing medications on the efficacy of the vaccine, the benefits of vaccination is anticipated to outweigh theoretical risks. Thus, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for immunocompromised patients at this time, and providers should make efforts to decrease vaccine hesitancy in this population through education and reassurance.