PBM rebate schemes to suppress biosimilar Humira cost US patients $6 billion

The USA-based Biosimilars Council, the leading trade association representing manufacturers of biosimilar medicines, has released a new analysis of IQVIA data revealing health plans and patients missed out on savings up to $6 billion as a result of rebate schemes by pharmacy benefit managers.

The report highlights the strategy created by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to protect $2 billion in profits by suppressing adoption of lower-cost versions of the brand drug Humira (adalimumab) from AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), once the best-selling drug in the world.

“Rebate and fee revenue tied to the list price continues to maintain a stranglehold on coverage decisions, to the detriment of patients and ultimately payers,” said Craig Burton, executive director, Biosimilars Council, part of the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM).