Humira survives competition from adalimumab biosimilars – for now
Humira biosimilars to disrupt the immune market in 2024-25
Seven years after Humira’s key patent expired, nine biosimilars of adalimumab launched in the United States autoimmune market in 2023, starting with Amgen’s Amjevita in January and followed by seven biosimilars in July and Pfizer’s Abrilada in October. Several 40 mg pen versions of adalimumab biosimilars have the same high-concentration, citrate-free formulation as Humira Pen.
Wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) prices for biosimilar pen products are 5-90% lower than Humira Pen, reflecting a dual-pricing trend. Several biosimilars are priced at two different levels (WAC): a deeply discounted version (low WAC) for payers / PBMs that want an immediate discount and a high-priced version (high WAC) for payers / PBMs that want to use rebates to lower net pricing.
AbbVie says it signed contracts with many payers and PBMs to keep Humira on formulary at par with biosimilars through 2024. Most surveyed payers say contracts on Humira are in effect through 2025.
Given the trend of dual pricing for biosimilars, will rebate-driven pricing dominate favorable coverage, or will most payers favor the lowest list price version?
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