Physicians' and patients' perception of biosimilars and factors affecting biosimilar prescribing in selected Asian countries: a survey study.

Background: This study evaluated physicians' and patients' beliefs about biosimilars in Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Research Design And Methods: An online survey administered to physicians (dermatologists,  = 119; gastroenterologists,  = 148; rheumatologists,  = 161) between 22 October 2021 and 7 January 2022, and patients ( = 90) with rheumatic or inflammatory bowel disease between 25 October 2021 and 12 April 2022.

Results: Most (68%) physicians reported having a strong knowledge about biosimilars, yet 49% indicated that biosimilars are readily available to them.

Prevalence and burden of vitiligo in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Vitiligo is a common chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by skin and hair depigmentation that affects 0.5%-2.0% of the global population.

Psychosocial Burden of Psoriasis: A Systematic Literature Review of Depression Among Patients with Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is associated with various comorbidities with a notable psychosocial burden. This systematic literature review explores the burden of depression in patients with psoriasis, comparing it with that experienced by patients with other chronic medical conditions. Embase via Ovid, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews via Ovid were searched for peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 1, 2016 and December 6, 2021 that reported real-world evidence or observational studies involving at least 100 adults (age ≥ 18 years) with general (unspecified) or plaque psoriasis experiencing symptoms of depression (but not restricted to patients with a clinical diagnosis).

Long-Term Adherence to Etanercept in Treatment Effectiveness of Patients with Spondyloarthritis: 7-Year Data from the Iraq National Registry.

Introduction: The diagnosis and treatment of spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a global challenge, with no cure available. Adherence to treatment with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as the tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor etanercept, varies among patients with SpA. Inadequate or poor adherence to treatment may have a negative effect on clinical outcome and quality of life and may lead to greater health-related expense.

The Economic and Psychosocial Comorbidity Burden Among Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Europe: Analysis of a Cross-Sectional Survey.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory disease of the skin, which may have a substantial impact on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to quantify the economic burden (direct and indirect costs) of moderate-to-severe AD and evaluate the prevalence and impact of psychosocial comorbidities among patients in the European Union-5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK).

Methods: Data were analyzed from the 2017 EU5 National Health and Wellness Survey.

Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in the Developing Countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East: A Review.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), the leading cause of skin-related burden of disease worldwide, is increasing in prevalence in developing countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Although AD presents similarly across racial and ethnic groups as chronic and relapsing pruritic eczematous lesions, some features of the disease may be more or less prominent in patients with darker skin. Despite a similar presentation, consistent diagnostic criteria and consistent treatment guidelines are lacking.

Burden of atopic dermatitis in Asia.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense pruritus and eczematous lesions. It is considered one of the most common chronic conditions, with an estimated global prevalence of nearly 230 million. As in the rest of the world, prevalence of atopic dermatitis has been increasing in Asian countries over the last few decades.

Efficacy and safety of tofacitinib for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients from the Asia-Pacific region: Post-hoc analyses of pooled clinical study data.

Aim: We report tofacitinib efficacy and safety in Asia-Pacific patients who participated in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical development program.

Method: This post-hoc analysis included pooled data from patients with RA in the Asia-Pacific region treated with tofacitinib with/without conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in Phase (P)1, 2, 3, and long-term extension (LTE) studies (one LTE ongoing; January 2016 data-cut). Efficacy was assessed over 24 months in patients who received tofacitinib 5 (N = 397) or 10 (N = 382) mg twice daily or placebo (N = 243) in three P2 and five P3 studies.

A Review on the Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors on Structural Progression in Early Axial Spondyloarthritis Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Introduction: Considering the progressive nature of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), it is important to determine whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitors have an effect on early inflammatory and structural lesions detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A search of MEDLINE/PubMed for full-text, English-language articles on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, or infliximab published since January 2007 was conducted in February 2018 and again in December 2018. The collected articles reported on inflammatory or fatty lesion progression in the spine or sacroiliac joint (SIJ), determined using MRI, in a population that included at least 40% of patients with early axSpA, defined as non-radiographic axSpA.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor biosimilars and intended copies in rheumatology: Perspective from the Asia Pacific region.

Although anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents have greatly improved the management of rheumatic diseases, their cost limits access to many patients throughout the world. As a result, patients and clinicians have turned to biosimilars to provide similar efficacy at a lower cost. Many of the regulatory guidelines in the Asia Pacific region are largely based on those of the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization; however, there are variations between countries.

Tuberculosis and viral hepatitis infection in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America: impact of tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors in clinical practice.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors are increasingly becoming the standard of care for treating a number of inflammatory diseases. However, treatment with TNF-α inhibitors carries an inherent risk of compromising the immune system, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infections and malignancies. This increased risk of infection is of particular concern in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America where tuberculosis (TB) and viral hepatitis are endemic.

Dosing down and then discontinuing biologic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a review of the literature.

Aim: To review the published studies that dose down and then discontinue biologic therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly concerning the criteria for such dosing and the impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods: Published studies conducted in patients with RA that sequentially decreased the dose and then discontinued therapy were included if one or more of the following biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) was evaluated: abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab or tocilizumab.

Results: Five studies qualified for inclusion.

Efficacy and safety of etanercept in patients from Latin America, Central Europe and Asia with early non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Aim: To evaluate etanercept in patients from Latin America, Central/Eastern Europe, and Asia with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).

Methods: A subset analysis was performed on nr-axSpA patients from Argentina, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia and Taiwan who were enrolled in EMBARK (NCT01258738). Patients received either etanercept 50 mg or placebo once weekly.

The prevalence and clinical characteristics of nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis among patients with inflammatory back pain in rheumatology practices: a multinational, multicenter study.

Background: Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), who by definition have radiographic sacroiliitis, typically experience symptoms for a decade or more before being diagnosed. Yet, even patients without radiographic sacroiliitis (i.e.

Assessment of clinical efficacy and safety in a randomized double-blind study of etanercept and sulfasalazine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis from Eastern/Central Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Despite the demonstrated efficacy of etanercept for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), sulfasalazine is often prescribed, especially in countries with limited access to biologic agents. The objective of this subset analysis of the ASCEND trial was to compare the efficacy of etanercept and sulfasalazine in treating patients with AS from Asia, Eastern/Central Europe, and Latin America. A total of 287 patients, 190 receiving etanercept 50 mg once weekly and 97 receiving sulfasalazine 3 g daily, from eight countries were included in this subset analysis.

Consensus statements on osteoporosis diagnosis, prevention, and management in the Philippines.

Objective: The consensus statements were developed to assist healthcare practitioners in providing optimal care to postmenopausal individuals at risk for osteoporosis and fragility fractures in the local setting.

Methodology: The Technical Review Committee formed by the Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines Foundation Inc. in cooperation with the Philippine Orthopedic Association drafted, retrieved available published evidence, and appraised important issues on osteoporosis and fragility fractures.

Validation of OSTA among Filipinos.

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease in humans. It is a special concern not only among postmenopausal women, but men as well. In developing countries where there are meager resources, it will definitely be helpful to search for ways to identify patients with low bone mineral density who have a high risk of future fractures.