Although the US brand name is Inflectra, it is marketed in the European Union as Remsima.The FDA approved Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd.s Renflexis (infliximab-abda) in April 2017.Biogen released another biosimilar, Flixabi, which was approved in Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands. Flixabi was approved for use in the European Union in May 2016.In December 2017, Ixifi (infliximab-qbtx) was approved in the United States.Zessly was approved for use in the European Union in May 2018.In December 2019, Avsola (infliximab-axxq) was approved in the United States.Avsola was approved for medical use in Canada in March 2020.In December 2021, Ixifi was approved for medical use in Canada. Availability/affordability
In the United States, infliximab is an expensive medication, costing about US$900 for a 100 mg dose, and is covered by almost every US medical insurance plan (though caps on many plans make it possible to be covered for only a subset of treatments in the course of a year). Infliximab is supplied as a sterile, white, lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder, so must be reconstituted and administered by a health care professional, usually in a hospital or office setting. For this reason, it is usually covered under major medical insurance rather than prescription drug coverage. The loading regimen for all approved indications occurs at weeks 0, 2, and 6 at the above dosages.In the UK, infliximab is available from the NHS for Crohns disease treatment provided three criteria are met.
Recombinant human parathyroid hormone, sold under the brand names Preotact and Natpara, is an artificially manufactured form of the parathyroid hormone used to treat hypoparathyroidism. Recombinant human parathyroid hormone is used in the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of osteoporotic fractures. A significant reduction in the incidence of vertebral fractures has been demonstrated.The most common side effects include sensations of tingling, tickling, pricking, or burning of the skin (paraesthesia); low blood calcium; headache; high blood calcium; and nausea. Medical uses
Natpara is indicated as an adjunct to calcium and vitamin D to control hypocalcemia in people with hypoparathyroidism.Preotact was approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of fractures, but the marketing authorisation has been withdrawn at the manufacturers request. Administration
The recommended dose is 100 micrograms of Preotact administered once-daily as a subcutaneous injection into the abdomen, during 18 months (data support treatment up to 24 months). The injections are given using a specially designed injection device (Preotact(TM)Pen). The PreotactPen is specifically designed to allow osteoporosis patients to administer the injections, despite challenges of vision impairment and limited strength of hands and digits tributable to high age. Patients should receive supplemental calcium and vitamin D during treatment with parathyroid hormone.