Anti-TNF-α antibody GR agonist conjugate (JiangSu Hengrui Medicine)

As AbbVie continues to fend off competition for Humira (adalimumab) and hold onto a dominant market position, a new report from Samsung Bioepis suggests that the immunology space in particular may be unfavourable to biosimilars, which tend to have quicker adoption in oncology and ophthalmology. Despite facing more competitors than any other biologic, the anti-TNF-α antibody had managed to retain 82% of its market share as of this May — though that figure is a sharp drop from just two months earlier in the year, when Humira held a 95% pole position. For related analysis, see Physician Views Results: Lack of financial incentive and prescriber confidence stalling adoption of biosimilar Humira products.That rapid market share erosion is, in part, due to CVS Caremark’s January decision to replace Humira with biosimilar versions of the antibody, the first major pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) to do so. In April, shortly after Humira was dropped from CVS’s formularies in favour of Sandoz’s Hyrimoz, the biosimilar saw an “explosion” in new prescriptions. According to Samsung’s report, Hyrimoz accounts for about 10% of sales now, while the rest of the adalimumab biosimilars have only managed to accrue a percentage or two. Looking to replicate Sandoz’s success is Boehringer Ingelheim, which in May inked a deal to manufacture its interchangeable biosimilar Cyltezo for Quallent Pharmaceuticals, a private-label pharmaceutical distributor owned by Cigna. The tie-up came shortly after the German drugmaker announced an overhaul of its sales team for the biosimilar following lower-than-expected uptake. For related analysis, see FDA refreshes biosimilar action plan, but uptake may be in hands of payers like Cigna.Disease divisionSamsung’s report divided the biosimilars marketed in the US into two buckets: those with fast uptake who achieved an average market share of 75% within three years of launching; and those who’ve had slow uptake, reaching an average of just 23% of the market after three years. Biosimilars of three oncology drugs Rituxan (rituximab), Avastin (bevacizumab), and Herceptin (trastuzumab) were all classified as rapid growers. Cimerli, a biosimilar of ophthalmology antibody Lucentis (ranibizumab), is also trending towards fast uptake; since its launch in October 2022, it’s claimed about 44% of sales.  On the other end of the spectrum, competitors of autoimmune disease therapy Remicade (infliximab), chronic kidney disease treatment Epogen (epoetin alfa), and Sanofi’s insulin glargine products have had much slower encroachment. While Humira biosimilars have only been on the market for a year and a half, AbbVie’s market share retention thus far suggests its pool of 10 competitors will most likely end up in the slow bucket.However, Samsung does note that biosimilar adoption has evolved as the market matures, pointing out that Remicade biosimilars, despite their slow start, now hold nearly half of the market share.