CHICAGO — One of the most popular prescription medications in the world is about to face fierce competition in the U.S. — something that could mean lower prices for the drug but a difficult coming year for the Illinois company that makes it.
For years, North Chicago-based AbbVie has worked to delay the day that copycat versions, called biosimilars, of its drug Humira would hit the market. Humira is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other conditions. It is AbbVie’s top seller, with sales of $20.7 billion in 2021, making up nearly 37% of the company’s total revenue that year.
The company was able to hold off the competition until 2023 through patent litigation and settlements with other drugmakers. Now that 2023 is at hand, more than half a dozen biosimilar versions of Humira will become available over the next year.
