Remicade is used more for Rheumatoid Arthritis compared to Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis
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By: Sruthy Iype Aug. 27, 2020
Dexur’s analysis of Medicare claims data showed that Remicade was used more in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis as compared to Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. The analysis looked at the J code (J1745) usage of the drug among Medicare patients who received outpatient care between Jan and Dec 2019. The analysis also looks at the average claims per patient data, which is a proxy for the number of injections / IV infusions / doses administered to a patient.
Janssen Biotech’s Remicade (infliximab) is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of a number of autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. It is a biologic that belongs to the drug class called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker. The excessive production of TNF-alpha, a signalling protein that plays a key role in regulating immunological responses, contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. By inhibiting its activity, Remicade helps to manage the symptoms of the disease including inflammation and pain. This study examines the top 5 diagnosis categories where the use of the drug has been observed.
| Diagnosis Category | Total Patients | Claims per Patient per year |
|---|---|---|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 8,304 | 5.1 |
| Crohn’s Disease | 5,466 | 5.1 |
| Ulcerative Colitis | 2,579 | 4.8 |
| Psoriatic Arthritis | 2,047 | 5.0 |
| Ankylosing Spondylitis | 848 | 5.1 |
The use of Remicade in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis surpasses its usage for other conditions by a huge margin. Between Jan and Dec 2019, the drug was administered to a total of 8,304 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, each having an average of 5.1 claims per year. With a total of 5,466 patients, Crohn’s disease was the second-largest diagnosis category associated with the use of Remicade. These patients also had an average of 5.1 claims per year.
Following Crohn’s disease, the drug’s usage was observed to be prevalent in the treatment of yet another inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis. The 2,579 patients of ulcerative colitis had an average of 4.8 claims each in a year for Remicade. Almost an equal proportion of the drug’s usage was also associated with the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. The drug was administered to 2,047 patients with the condition during this period, wherein each patient had an average of 5 claims per year.
A significant usage of Remicade was observed in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis as well. The 848 patients belonging to this diagnosis category had an average of 5.1 claims in a year for the drug.