5PSQ-076 Switching biologic treatments: experience of a regional hospital

BackgroundDue to the approval of new biological treatments (BT) with innovative mechanisms of action (MOA), patients have more options to achieve clinical remission.PurposeTo analyse the reasons for switching to BT, evaluate their effectiveness and the costs associated.Material and methodsRetrospective study conducted between January to December 2017 in a regional hospital with a reference area of 1 10 000 inhabitants and 220 BT.All patients who switched their BT were included. Data on relevant patient characteristics, diagnostics and treatment were collected.Total drug costs were calculated from Botplus (September 2018). In the case of weight-dependent doses a standard weight of 70 kg had been considered.Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS Statistics v.22.ResultsThirty-eight (19.0%) patients were included; 12 (31.6%) males; and 48.9 (12.5) years’ old.Distribution by diagnostics: 17 (44.7%) rheumatoid arthritis (RA), eight (21.1%) spondyloarthropathies, five (13.1%) psoriatic arthritis, three (7.9%) psoriasis, three (7.9) Crohn’s disease and two (5.3%) ulcerative colitis.In 32 (84.2%) patients, the specialist waited for a minimum of 12 weeks to switch to BT (except in cases of adverse effects). Nineteen (50.0%) patients had received more than one BT previously. Two BT (infliximab) vs one BT (etanercept) were biosimilars.Previous vs new BT: 31 (81.6%) vs 14 (36.8%) anti-TNFα and seven (18.4%) vs 24 (63.2%) drugs with different MOA (Chi square 15.75; p