AbbVie’s Humira exclusivity loss is a missed opportunity for competitors, says analyst

16 July 2024

US pharma major AbbVie’s (NYSE: ABBV) market leadership, driven by its flagship disease-modifying antirheumatic drug Humira (adalimumab), faced a significant test with the 2023 loss of patent protection.

Despite an anticipated competitive surge, rivals have struggled to capitalize. AbbVie's strategic shift to Skyrizi (risankizumab) and Rinvoq (upadacitinib) has solidified its position, underscoring a missed opportunity for competitors in the immunology market, says pharma analytics company GlobalData.

AbbVie has maintained a strong position within the immunology space for the past few years, largely due to the success of its anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, Humira. On December 31, 2002, the drug received its first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to treat rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients and saw $246 million in US sales the following year on market.

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