February 2 RxAdvocate February, 2023 — Newsletter
February Stories:
- Humira Biosimilar
- Mounjaro Marketing
- New Cancer Drugs Approval
Biosimilars – Humira
The first Humira biosimilar, Amjevita, has finally hit the market in the U.S. Biosimilars are different from generic drugs in that they are not exact duplicates of their reference biologic product, but are highly similar without any meaningful clinical differences.
Their cost-saving potential will largely be determined by payers and physicians to drive uptake and divert patients away from the more expensive reference product. Humira biosimilars are approved to treat a variety of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis.
Amgen (manufacturer of Amjevita) reached a deal with Abbvie (manufacturer of Humira) to allow 6 months of exclusivity on the market before other biosimiars could launch. At least 7 other Humira biosimilars are set to hit the market later this year, with 6 set to come in July and another, Cyltezo, in September. As of now, Cyltezo is the only FDA-approved interchangeable biosimilar.
Supply Squeeze Paves way for Mounjaro Marketing
Eli Lilly’s type-2 diabetes medication Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is facing an uptick in usage due to a popular side effect of the drug – weight loss.
The overhauled discount program for the diabetic drug requires patients to indicate their existing condition in order to qualify for the discounted drug price. While the overall result may be lower prescription volumes, Lilly hopes to reinforce intended use of the drug with the enhanced savings program.
New Cancer Drugs get FDA Approval
New Cancer Drugs get FDA Approval
The Food and Drug Administration added two new cancer medications that are scheduled to roll out in the coming weeks.
Jaypirca (made by Eli Lilly) is a treatment that targets mantle cell lymphoma – a rare, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The drug shows promise in helping patients where previous treatments were unsuccessful.
Orserdu (made by Italian group Menarini) has been approved for postmenopausal women or adult men with advanced or metastatic breast cancer. This is the first branded endocrine therapy for breast cancer in nearly two decades.
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