Coherus to launch adalimumab biosimilar in US at 85% discount
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Key takeaways:
- Coherus’ adalimumab biosimilar, Yusimry, will enter the U.S. market in July at an 85% discount from AbbVie’s originator Humira.
- Coherus has partnered with the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company to sell the biosimilar at $569.27 plus dispensing and shipping fees.
Coherus BioSciences’ adalimumab biosimilar, Yusimry, will make its debut in the U.S. marketplace this summer at an 85% discount compared with the originator Humira, according to the manufacturer.
In a company press release, Coherus announced that it plans to launch Yusimry (adalimumab-aqvh) in July 2023 at a list price of $995 per carton — each containing two 40 mg/0.8 mL autoinjectors — representing a substantial discount relative to the current $6,922 price tag for a carton of Humira (adalimumab, AbbVie).
“Our Yusimry list price is a clear response to the challenges and needs of patients faced with high-cost adalimumab treatments today,” Denny Lanfear, CEO of Coherus, said in the release. “We believe there is a large, unmet need for improved access and affordability in the U.S. health care system that Yusimry can address with this pricing. Our excellence in manufacturing and supply chain management gives us the ability to deliver safe and effective biosimilar adalimumab at low cost with ensured, reliable supply.”
In a separate release, Coherus also announced a partnership with the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, the direct-to-consumer online pharmacy launched in 2022 by the eponymous billionaire entrepreneur, to offer Yusimry to customers at a price of $569.27 plus dispensing and shipping fees. The online pharmacy has gained attention for offering drugs at wholesale cost plus a 15% markup, a $3 pharmacy labor charge and $5 for shipping.
The manufacturer added that Yusimry will also be included in the “Team Cuban Card” prescription benefit program through participating pharmacies. According to the release, the card allows patients to fill prescriptions at local independent pharmacies at the same price as Cost Plus Drugs.
Humira has long been the highest-grossing drug in the world, netting AbbVie $16 billion in U.S. revenue and $19.8 billion in global revenue in 2020 alone. In 2022, Humira brought in $18 billion in net revenues in the United States.
At least seven FDA-approved adalimumab biosimilars will make their way to the U.S. marketplace for the first time in 2023, after years of patent litigation between AbbVie and multiple biosimilar manufacturers.
“Humira is the top-selling medicine of all time, but for those without insurance or who are underinsured, this therapy and other biologic medicines have been out of reach due to price,” Alexander Oshmyansky, MD, PhD, co-founder and CEO of the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, said in the release. “Working with Coherus, a pioneer in the field of biosimilars, we are excited to disrupt the high-cost biologic space by offering Yusimry, a biosimilar of Humira, one of the highest cost drugs in America.”
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