Do Biosimilars work as well?

[mille]

Just wondering if anyone has noticed any difference if they have been changed over to a biosimilar infusion. I have been on Rituximab for around 8 years now and over the last few infusions I have noticed that they don't seem to work as well. It may be because I have been on it so long that it isn't working as well but it seems to have been since they changed it. xx

[Hezekiah]

Mille, there are lots of threads which have previously discussed biosimilars. You might find it helpful to read through a few of them?

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

You may get useful information if you use the search box and look up Rituximab, xxx(the biosimilar you are now using), and biosimilars.

In my son's case, he switched from Enbrel to biosimilar Erelzi, but it was not successful, and less than 6 months later the consultant was happy to switch him back to Enbrel which he has been taking ever since.

The general consensus on the threads here seems to be that

a) there is no good reason to switch meds if the ones you currently have are working, and you have a lot to lose potentially (you might go back to the old meds which did work for you but find that it no longer does!)

b) it doesn't save the NHS as much money as you might think

c) it's not compulsory to switch (even if they pressure you)

d) it's probably better to start treatment on biosimilars, rather than switch to them

Hope that is not too far off topic, and gives you some help. Cheers

[mille in reply to Hezekiah]

Thank you for that information. I will have a read through it all. I was never told that I was switching but did notice the infusion came in a black bag when before it was always clear and I then asked. xx

[Hezekiah in reply to mille]

Please can you post to say the name of the biosimilar you are now taking? Thanks

Are you in the UK?

[mille in reply to Hezekiah]

Hi, I have no idea as they didn't even tell me it was a biosimilar, it was only when I noticed that the infusion bag was a different colour and they said it was similar. I will ask at my next infusion which will be in a few weeks time.

[Ontwowheels in reply to mille]

The infusion bag is saline. The rituximab comes in a vial which they add to the saline bag.

[Ontwowheels in reply to Ontwowheels]

So even if the bag was a different colour that doesn’t mean they switched your rituximab

[Lolabridge]

My last infusion was the Rituximab biosimilar Rixathon. Prior to that I had Truxima. I’ve never had Rituximab itself.It’s hard for me to compare as I only had one pulse for my last infusion rather than the usual two given two weeks apart. So far I’m doing ok … 🤞🏻

[mille in reply to Lolabridge]

Thanks for your reply, Rituximab worked great for me and hope the ones you are on do the same x

[bpeal1]

My consultant switched me to a biosimilar a couple of years ago, which I was happy about as it was a lot cheaper and I knew that biosimilars have to be rigorously tested to ensure they work just as well for the same percentage of patients. However, I flared really badly and had very active disease for the whole 6 months after it. I had quite a long chat with my rheumatologist about it. She said it could be that Rituximab had stopped working for me, however, although the biosimilar works for the same percentage of patients as the original she was getting more and more anecdotal evidence that it wasn’t always helping the same patients (ie. I was in the 95% of patients which Rituximab worked for but in the 5% the biosimilar didn’t work for - I’m not sure those are the correct figures but just an example). She suggested trying the original again. It’s now in my notes that I should only have the original brand.

I suggest you have a similar discussion with your Rheumatologist.

[mille in reply to bpeal1]

Thank you for that information. I will definitely discuss it with them before the next infusion. The strange thing is my ESR is very low but I am in a lot more pain, especially my shoulder and ankles.

[helenlw7]

I was changed from Enbrel to its biosimilar, Benepali. I definitely noticed a difference in the three weeks I was on it! It took me almost 3 months to get back to where I was, mobility wise.

[sunnyweek]

My health authority sent out a letter telling us they were going to use the biosimilars. I've been on retuximab about 10 years and the last two infusions were Truxima. I was a bit disappointed as I'd rather have the original with it working well, but except for more flushing of the face after Truxima it has been alright and I'm still going approximately a year between infusions. I hope you can discuss it with them.

[mille in reply to sunnyweek]

Thank you for your reply. I was never informed that they were changing it until I went for the infusion. Hope it continues to work well for you x