In 2022, Humira's global sales soared beyond $21 billion. The product is marketed by AbbVie, the world's fifth-largest pharmaceutical company by market capitalization; AbbVie has often found itself at the center of controversy. Particularly concerning its commercial tactics and strategies to curb competition through excessive patenting. In a move highlighting these contentious practices, the U.S. Congress called on AbbVie's CEO to testify in 2021, addressing both concerns.
Humira is a pioneering biologic therapy that plays a key role in managing a wide range of critical autoimmune-related disorders. As a biologic medicine, which are complex molecules produced by living cells, Humira does not face traditional generic competition. Indeed, companies looking to compete in this arena must develop a "biosimilar," analogous to generics in their potential to lower product costs, yet they must navigate considerably more rigorous regulatory and developmental challenges.
