Biosimilars Forum Congratulates Fresenius Kabi for Launch of IDACIO®

Juliana M. Reed, executive director the Biosimilars Forum, released the following statement expressing appreciation for Fresenius Kabi for launching IDACIO® (adalimumab-aacf). This launch is part of a wave of Humira® (adalimumab) biosimilars entering the U.S. market this year. The success of these therapies has the potential to reshape the future of the biosimilars market in the United States, offering savings of billions of dollars annually for the U.S. healthcare system. However, for these medications to truly benefit patients, it is crucial that they are made accessible to all those who need them.

“Today marks another pivotal moment for biosimilars in the United States. Fresenius Kabi’s launch of IDACIO® (adalimumab-aacf) brings another biosimilar for Humira® into the marketplace, creating a more competitive prescription drug landscape that can significantly reduce costs.

“Nevertheless, the cost-saving advantages of biosimilars can only be realized if they are readily available to patients who need them. These affordable therapies must be granted access to formularies, enabling the biosimilars market to thrive and lowering prescription drug costs for millions of Americans.

“Humira® is the most expensive prescription drug in the United States and can cost patients upwards of $84,000 per year. It has experienced a 470% price increase since first introduced on the market.

“The Biosimilars Forum urges the Biden Administration, Congress, and federal regulators to seize this opportunity moment and ensure biosimilars are available in full to patients, including Medicare patients. In fact, Medicare could have saved an estimated $2.19 billion on Humira® over four years had biosimilar competition been available – a landscape that must exist moving forward.

“The biosimilars industry requires comprehensive support from policymakers and healthcare stakeholders to provide patients with the lower-cost options they need. I look forward to collaborating with lawmakers as more Humira biosimilars are introduced, finally offering long overdue, affordable alternatives for the world’s top-selling drug.”

For more information on the Biosimilars Forum’s work to increase access to lower-cost biosimilars, visit biosimilarsforum.org.