Boehringer Ingelheim, which recently launched the first interchangeable biosimilar to AbbVie’s megablockbuster Humira, is getting in on the industry’s double-pricing trick.
After debuting its branded Humira biosim Cyltezo in July, Boehringer has launched an unbranded copycat of the inflammatory disease drug, simply called adalimumab-adbm injection, which will be sold at an 81% discount to Humira. By comparison, BI's Cyltezo carries a 5% discount on the branded med.
As it stands, a month’s supply of Humira costs about $6,653 before discounts, according to online sources.
Like Cyltezo, adalimumab-adbm is interchangeable, meaning pharmacists can swap it out for Humira right at the pharmacy counter, much like the process for generic small-molecule drugs.
Amgen’s biosimilar Amjevita was the first Humira copycat to launch this year. After that drug’s debut in January, July saw the entry of a clutch of additional competitors, such as Fresenius Kabi’s Idacio, Biocon Biologics’ Hulio, Organon and Samsung Bioepis’ Hadlima and Sandoz’s Hyrimoz.
Much like Boehringer, Amgen also launched its biosimilar at two different pricing tiers—one 55% below Humira’s list price and the other at a 5% discount.
While the steeper discounts look good on paper, the more expensive biosimilars might end up being more popular with payers because of rebate dynamics.
Biocon and Viatris adopted the same tack back in 2021 when they launched the U.S.’ first interchangeable biosimilar, Semglee, which references Sanofi’s blockbuster diabetes med Lantus. The partners rolled out both a branded and unbranded version of their product, either of which can be substituted for Sanofi’s med at the pharmacy counter.
Humira has long been AbbVie’s top-selling product, as well as one of the world’s best-selling drugs. Last year, Humira brought home around $21.24 billion in global sales.
Still, despite the need for more affordable alternatives, copycat biologics to Humira have yet to make a significant impact on the market, according to a recent analysis from Spherix Global Insights.
While the group flagged “continued erosion” of AbbVie’s Humira in “favor of a growing embrace of these diverse biosimilars,” Spherix cautioned that healthcare prescribers “have not wholly warmed to these newcomers,” with dermatologists in particular showing the “highest degree of stated resistance to change.”
AbbVie, for its part, has been bracing for Humira biosimilars for years.
In the second quarter, Humira revenues slipped 25% compared with the same period last year, landing at $4 billion. On a July conference call with analysts, AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzalez said the situation was playing out "as projected, and slightly better than our planning assumptions."
The company now expects Humira’s sales erosion to come out to 35% this year, compared with a prior estimate of 37%.