Efficacy and Safety of Biosimilar Infliximab (Remsima) in Comparison with Originator Infliximab (Remicade) in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Abstract Background: Relapsing-remitting inflammatory bowel disorders are chronic. Biologic therapy has expedited inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment. Infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-targeting chimeric antibody, induces and maintains illness remission. Remsima and other biosimilars seek to cut medical expenses and increase medicine affordability. Objective: The aim of study is to compare the clinical efficacy, endoscopic changes, and safety of Remsima vs. Remicade in patients with IBD. Materials and Methods: From April 1, 2019, to April 1, 2020, Baghdad Medical City’s Gastroenterology and Hepatology Hospital performed this investigation. Remsima and Remicade were given to 13 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 13 Crohn’s disease patients, respectively. Disease activity was measured using Mayo Score in UC and Crohn disease activity index and simple endoscopic score for Crohn’s disease (SES-CD) in CD initially and followed up 6 months after first dose of Remsima prospectively and retrospectively for Remicade by clinical data and endoscopic findings. Results: After 6 months of therapy, UC and CD Mayo scores decreased from 10.07 to 4.92 and 9.84 to 5.00 by Remsima and Remicade, respectively. Remsima and Remicade decreased CD mean from 436.07 to 212.84 and 428.30 to 199.53. Remsima and Remicade decreased CD SES scores from 15.15 to 6.92 and 12.69 to 5.00, respectively. 3 (23.1%) Remsima patients in both conditions had side symptoms, whereas 4 (30.8%) Remicade patients in UC and 5 (38.5%) in CD did. Groups gained weight significantly. Both medications were equally effective and safe ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Remsima and Remicade are a tolerable effective treatment with no significant adverse effects in IBD patients with moderate–severe disease.