P364 Comparison of two treatment strategies in IBD: Biosimilar adalimumab (CinnoRA®) in monotherapy and in combination with azathioprine

Alborzi Avanaki, F.(1);Moghbel, N.(2);Aletaha, N.(3);E.Daryani, N.(4);Farahvash, M.J.(5);Miroliaii, A.(6);Shayegan, N.(6);Anjidani, N.(7);

(1)Assistants professor of gastroenterology, department of Gastroenterology -Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Teheran, Iran- Islamic Republic Of;(2)Assistant professor of gastroenterology. Kurdistan university of Medical sciences, Gastroenterology, kurdistan, Iran- Islamic Republic Of;(3)Associated professorof Gastroenterology. Tehran University of Medical sciences, Gastroenterology department of Imam Khomeini hospital, Tehran, Iran- Islamic Republic Of;(4)Professor of Gastroenterology.Tehran University of Medical sciences, Gastroenterology Department of Imam khomeini hospital, Tehran, Iran- Islamic Republic Of;(5)Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Gastroenterology Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran- Islamic Republic Of;(6)Tehran University of Medical sciences, Gastroenterology, Tehran, Iran- Islamic Republic Of;(7)Orchid pharmed company, Medical department, Tehran, Iran- Islamic Republic Of;

Background

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors, such as adalimumab (ADA) and infliximab (IFX), are among the most effective biological drugs for inducing and maintaining remission in patients with moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previous studies have shown that the effectiveness of IFX is increased with the concomitant use of immunosuppressive drugs. However, little is known about the benefits of adding other immunosuppressive agents to ADA. This study compared the efficacy of monotherapy with biosimilar adalimumab (ADA) and combination therapy with ADA + azathioprine (AZA) in IBD patients.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the medical records of anti-TNF-naïve IBD patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran during 2019-2020 and were prescribed with biosimilar ADA (CinnoRA®). We compared the effectiveness of treatment, serum levels of ADA, anti-adalimumab antibodies (AAAs), and laboratory data between the two monotherapy and combination therapy groups.

Results

A total of 65 patients were enrolled in the study. Fifty-six (86.2%) patients had ulcerative colitis (UC), and the remaining had Crohn’s disease (CD). Fifty patients (76.9%) received combination therapy, and 15 (23.1%) patients were under monotherapy. The rate of clinical remission in the combination therapy group (50%) did not differ significantly from the monotherapy group (40%) (P=0.56). The drug levels were in the therapeutic range (≥7.5 µg/mL) in 57.5% of patients in the combination therapy group and 76.9% of those in the monotherapy group (P=0.21). The antibody test result was positive in 40% of patients taking AZA + ADA and 10% of patients in the ADA group (P=0.21).

Conclusion

There was no significant difference in the ADA and AAA concentrations between patients receiving ADA monotherapy and combination therapy. Moreover, there was no association between ADA concentrations and the rate of remission in IBD patients. Hence, AZA does not affect the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of ADA in patients with IBD.