Humira pen auto-injector now launched in Japan

The world biggest-ever selling drug Humira (adalimumab), which has so far managed to stave off biosimilars competition, has now seen the launch of a new formulation in Japan.

AS drug major AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and Eisai (TYO: 4523), together with its gastrointestinal subsidiary EA Pharma, announced that the auto-injection delivery system for Humira UMIRA (adalimumab, recombinant] was listed in the National Health Insurance Drug Price Standard on May 30.

AbbVie and Eisai have launched the products in Japan today. Humira is a fully human anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody formulation.

The newly launched pen-type auto-injector devices were developed to simplify the operation and reduce the burden on patients when performing self-injection. The rounded pen-type body of this product is designed to fit in the hands of even patients who have a weak grip and conceal the needle tip when injected. In addition to the lock function and autoinjection delivery system which allows for the full amount drug injection in about 10 seconds, it features injection start and end alert sounds and an inspection window. The pen-type auto-injector devices are filled with the same drug solution as the conventional pre-filled syringe devices(1).