Background: Compared with erythropoietin originator, the use of erythropoietin biosimilar is suggested only for economic reasons.Therefore, we aimed to compare the therapeutic equivalence of human erythropoietin Alfa Originator (Eprex) and Biosimiliar (Binocrit) to maintain haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in the therapeutic range and the monthly cost of each therapy.
Methods: 63 chronic haemodialized patients(64±17yrs)on treatment with Eprex were assigned to Eprex or Binocrit harm and followed up for 6 months.42 subjects treated with Eprex and 11 subjects treated with Binocrit were included in this analysis.A general linear model for repeated measures,adjusted for haemoglobin and haematocrit levels was used.In this analysis a cost of £55.31 for 10,000 UI of Eprex and £50.91 for 10,000 UI of Binocrit was used.
Results:Monthly erythropoietin Alfa dose was 12,078±1,440 and 12,981±2,677 UI in Eprex and Binocrit group; mean haemoglobin and haematocrit levels were comparable between groups.In multivariate analysis,adjusted for monthly haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, erythropoietin Alfa dose was higher in Binocrit than Eprex group (Fig. 1).Even if Binocrit was 8% cheaper than Eprex, the monthly cost of erythropoietin Alfa to maintain haemoglobin and haematocrit levels in the therapeutic range was only 1% lower with Binocrit than with Eprex.
Conclusions: Our preliminary data showed that the switch from human erythropoietin Alfa originator to biosimiliar is associated with an increase of erythropoietin dose during a follow-up of 6 months and with a comparable monthly cost of Binocrit and Eprex therapy.
