Humira, Enbrel Rivals Would Bring Billions in Patient Savings

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases could collectively benefit from up to $5.8 billion in savings if more biosimilars to AbbVie Inc.'s Humira and Amgen Inc.'s Enbrel enter the marketplace, according to a new study by the Pacific Research Institute.

The report, published Thursday by PRI’s Center for Medical Economics and Innovation, gives insight into some of the tangible benefits that could result from greater competition among biosimilars—lower-cost versions of biologics that mimic the originals—especially at a time when leading brand-name drugs dominate the pharmaceutical marketplace.

“It’s time to get that competitive environment working,” center director Wayne Winegarden, ...