Introduction
While randomized studies have shown that Amgevita (an adalimumab biosimilar) and Humira (adalimumab originator) are equivalent, concerns persist among patients and prescribers as to its efficacy. Patients switching to a medicine they perceive as lower cost may experience a ‘nocebo’ effect, whereby expectations of poorer efficacy may lead to worse clinical outcomes, resulting in an unmeasured health economic burden.
Aims & Methods
70 patients partook in a biosimilar switch study at our centre in August 2020, undergoing a change in treatment from Humira to Amgevita. Baseline clinical data obtained included faecal calprotectin, drug and drug antibody levels, Harvey-Bradshaw (HBI) and Partial-Mayo scores. Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) were recorded through the IBD control-8 (IBDC8) and IBCD visual analogue scale (IBDQ-VAS). Patients took psychometric tests 8 weeks pre-switch, including the ‘Beliefs about Medicines’ questionnaire (BMQ), used to assess beliefs about prescribed medications, the ‘Health Anxiety Index’ (HAI), used to identify patients with high levels of concern about their health, and the EQ-5D questionnaire, used to measure health-related quality of life. The original study found no significant differences in clinical and PROs at 8-week follow-up. We planned to conduct a 32-month follow-up on these patients to examine for temporal changes in outcomes, and whether certain variables could predict the patients experiencing a ‘nocebo’ effect. Approval was obtained from the hospital ethics committee. Patient information from the original study was stored on an excel database. We retrospectively obtained clinical data from electronic records and lab data. Questionnaire results were obtained from clinic appointments.
Results
70 patients were included in the study. 41 male, 29 female. 54 patients had Crohn’s, 13 UC, and 4 indeterminate colitis. 25.7% of patients reported adverse events post-switch, with 33.3% of these patients switching back to Humira. The most common side effects were skin related (8.6%), injection site related (5.7%), and headaches (2.8%). 8.6% of patients felt the medication to be less effective without specific symptoms. 32-months post switch, 72.7% remained on Amjevita, 9.1% had switched back to Humira, 7.6% had switched to another biologic as clinical non-responders, 10.6% had stopped biologic treatment due to surgery or clinical remission.
Median scores were calculated at 8 weeks pre and post-switch, and at 32 months. HBI scores were 2, 1 and 1 respectively, with scores of 1, 0 and 0 in the switchback group. IBDC8 scores were 12, 13 and 14 overall, with scores of 12, 10 and 14 in the switchback group. IBDQ-VAS scores were 87, 80 and 90 overall, with scores of 100, 100 and 85 in the switchback group. Median HAI scores were lower in the switchback group; scoring 12 versus 17 overall. Median scores in four domains of the BMQ questionnaire; general harm, general overuse, specific concerns and specific necessity were lower in the switchback group. Scores were 12, 12, 8, 7, versus overall scores of 21, 14, 10, and 9 respectively, indicating more negative attitudes towards medicines in the switchback group.
Conclusion
Our study found no negative impact in clinical outcomes and PROs in patients switching from Humira to Amgevita at 32-months post-switch. Patients that had more negative attitudes to medicines in the BMQ questionnaire were more likely to switchback to Humira suggesting a nocebo effect. Enhanced patient education may help mitigate the nocebo effect observed in our study and enhance the success rate of future biosimilar switch trials.