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News
Biosimilar swap works just as well for Crohn's patients. A large Italian study found that Crohn's disease patients in remission who switched from reference ustekinumab to a biosimilar version fared just as well as those who stayed on the original — with over 92% in both groups achieving clinical success at 6 months. The switch-back rate was a mere 1.2%, signaling strong treatment persistence.
Biosimilar swap works just as well for Crohn's patients
A new prospective study out of Italy offers reassuring news for Crohn's disease (CD) patients and their doctors: switching from reference ustekinumab (Stelara) to a biosimilar version doesn't compromise outcomes. The study, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, tracked 462 adults with CD in clinical remission across 18 centers — 337 of whom were switched to a biosimilar due to procurement decisions, while 125 continued on the reference drug.
At the 6-month mark, clinical success rates were virtually identical between the two groups, and biosimilar persistence was high. Only a small fraction of patients switched back to the reference drug, suggesting the transition was well-tolerated overall.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: With cost pressures driving biosimilar adoption, this study supports procurement-driven switching as a safe strategy for stable CD patients — though the authors caution that longer-term data and standardized objective assessments are still needed before declaring full interchangeability.
