Boehringer Ingelheim to expand access to adalimumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/General | Posted 03/07/2024 post-comment0 Post your comment

On 13 May 2024, Boehringer Ingelheim (Boehringer) announced an agreement with Quallent Pharmaceuticals, a private label pharmaceutical distributor, to help expand patient access to citrate-free adalimumab-adbm, Boehringer’s biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab) in the US.

Discount Save money V15c13

Boehringer has already launched a branded biosimilar, Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm), at a 5% discount and an unbranded version at an 81% markdown. However, due to low uptake, Boehringer has now switched to a hybrid marketing model that combines in-person and virtual sales for this product [1].

Cyltezo was approved in 2017 [2] and later approved as an interchangeable biosimilar in 2021 [3] for the lower concentration formulation of adalimumab in the US. With the new agreement, Boehringer will provide Quallent, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cigna Group, with citrate-free adalimumab-adbm while continuing to commercialize both Boehringer Ingelheim-labelled Cyltezo and its unbranded Humira biosimilar adalimumab-adbm.

This comes after news that despite the influx of adalimumab biosimilars entering the market in 2023, Humira remains on top in the US. A letter published in JAMA in June 2024 [4] reported that, as of January 2024, both high and low concentrations of originator Humira, are nearly universally covered by Medicare Part D plans. However, only half of these plans cover adalimumab biosimilars. Cyltezo is covered by just over half of plans. Of the plans that covered both, only 1.5% had lower-tier placement for biosimilars. This gap in Medicare access to Humira has also been addressed in a recent article by Joshua Cohen [1].

Quallent will provide both high-concentration (40 mg/0.4 mL) and low-concentration (40 mg/0.8 mL) citrate-free formulations of adalimumab-adbm, available in pre-filled syringes or pens. The interchangeability designation for the low-concentration formulation of adalimumab-adbm will also apply to Quallent’s private-labelled 40 mg/0.8 mL version.

Adalimumab is a human monoclonal antibody treats autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and ulcerative colitis [5].

Related articles
CVS Caremark removes Humira in the US and Sandoz launches Hyrimoz in Europe

US PBMs add multiple Humira biosimilars to formularies

Humira (adalimumab) biosimilars pipeline  

LATIN AMERICAN FORUM
The new section of the ‘Latin American Forum’ on GaBI has been launched. The objective of this new section is to provide you with all the latest news and updates on developments of generic and biosimilar medicines in Latin America in Spanish.

View the latest headline article: Descifrando las negociaciones sobre los precios de los medicamentos de la US IRA y Medicare

Browse the news in the Latin American Forum!

Register to receive the GaBI Latin American Forum newsletter. Inform colleagues and friends of this new initiative.

FORO LATINOAMERICANO
Se ha lanzado la nueva sección del ‘Foro Latinoamericano’ sobre GaBI. El objetivo de esta nueva sección es brindarle las últimas noticias y actualizaciones sobre desarrollos de medicamentos genéricos y biosimilares en América Latina en español.

Ver el último artículo de cabecera: Descifrando las negociaciones sobre los precios de los medicamentos de la US IRA y Medicare

!Explore las noticias en el Foro Latinoamericano!

Regístrese para recibir el boletín informativo GaBI Foro Latinoamericano. Informe a colegas y amigos sobre esta nueva iniciativa. 

 

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Addressing the persistent gap in Medicare access to Humira biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2024 Jul 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/addressing-the-persistent-gap-in-medicare-access-to-humira-biosimilars
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA approves adalimumab biosimilar Cyltezo [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2024 Jul 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/news/FDA-approves-adalimumab-biosimilar-Cyltezo
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA approves adalimumab biosimilar Cyltezo as interchangeable [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2024 Jul 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/news/fda-approves-adalimumab-biosimilar-cyltezo-as-interchangeable
4. Klebanoff MJ, et al. Formulary Coverage of Brand-Name Adalimumab and Biosimilars Across Medicare Part D Plans. JAMA. Published online June 6, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.8917
5. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of adalimumab [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2024 Jul 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/biosimilars-of-adalimumab

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2024 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.

comment icon Comments (0)
Post your comment
Most viewed articles
About GaBI
Home/About GaBI Posted 06/08/2009
EU guidelines for biosimilars
EMA logo 1 V13C15
Home/Guidelines Posted 08/10/2010