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.
Based on studies in AS, the results suggest infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab have the potential to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate to severely active axial involvement in PsA in patients who have had an inadequate response to NSAID (level 1a, grade A). The anti-TNF agents (infliximab and etanercept; level 1b, grade A) are more effective for the treatment of enthesitis than traditional agents. Results suggest infliximab is effective for the treatment of dactylitis in PsA. Other
It was approved for treating ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis.Infliximab is also prescribed (out of indication) for the treatment of Behçets disease.Infliximab is the most frequently used biological agent in treating relapsing polychondritis. Half of the patients saw benefit from this treatment, and a few other patients experienced infections that in some cases lead to death.There have been numerous case reports of the efficacy of infliximab in various inflammatory skin conditions diseases; the FDA approved infliximab for chronic severe plaque psoriasis in adults in September 2006.Infliximab has been used off-label in treating refractory sarcoidosis, where other treatments have not been effective.Infliximab has been tested in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but there was no evidence of benefit with the possibility of harm.Infliximab is indicated for steroid refractory checkpoint inhibitor induced colitis, at a dose of 5 to 10 mg/kg. Adverse effects
Infliximab has adverse effects, some life-threatening, common to drugs in the class of TNF inhibiting immunosuppressants (which also includes etanercept (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira)).