Biosimilar Cyltezo shows equivalence to mega-blockbuster Humira

As AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) continues to fend of biosimilars competition in the USA for to its mega-blockbuster drug Humira (adalimumab), new data presented at the European Association of Dermatology and Venereology Annual Meeting (EADV 2018) in Paris further support another strong competitor.

Boehringer Ingelheim today announced results from a Phase III study, confirming that Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm) is equivalent to Humira, with no clinically meaningful differences in efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in people with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

Cyltezo was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in August last year, not yet marketed as Boehringer is currently engaged in patent litigation with AbbVie in the USA. It was also approved by the European Medicines Agency in November 2017. Humira’s global sales in the second quarter of 2018 were up 10% year-on-year at $5.2 billion.