CVS’ Cordavis to launch Sandoz’s Hyrimoz (adalimumab)

Biosimilares/General | Posted 03/10/2023 post-comment0 Post your comment

In August 2023, CVS Health Corp announced it has launched a new company called Cordavis that will work directly with manufacturers to commercialize and co-produce biosimilar medicines for the US market.

15 AA010699

As part of this, the first partnership was announced and in 2024 Cordavis will work with Novartis' biosimilar division, Sandoz. Together they will market Hyrimoz, a version of Humira (adalimumab), AbbVie's blockbuster arthritis drug, under a Cordavis private label. This Sandoz biosimilar is approved in the US and Europe [1] and will have a list price that is more than 80% lower than the branded drug.

CVS’ Caremark is one of the largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the US. As organisations that negotiate prices with drugmakers, PBMs have come under scrutiny by US lawmakers and the Federal Trade Commission in recent times as drug prices continue to rise. A number of adalimumab biosimilars have been launched, yet prices remain high, and it has been argued that this is because the drugmakers compete with one another for leverage against PBMs.

Coherus Biosciences has recently partnered with billionaire Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, an online pharmacy that sells directly to consumers, to market a low-cost adalimumab option [2]. Some suggest that the recent move by CVS’ Cordavis, launching an adalimumab biosimilar at an 80% discount, is a response to this deal.

The originator product, AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab), was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in December 2002 and by the European Medicines Agency in September 2003 [3]. It has been a blockbuster drug and many biosimilar versions have been approved. 

Adalimumab is a human monoclonal antibody that treats autoimmune diseases by inhibiting tumour necrosis factor (TNF), a soluble inflammatory cytokine. Adalimumab binds to TNF-alpha (TNF-α), preventing it from activating TNF receptors, which cause the inflammatory reactions associated with autoimmune diseases. Adalimumab is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid, juvenile idiopathic and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and ulcerative colitis [4]. 

Related articles
Coherus retracts AbbVie restraining order in Humira biosimilar dispute

AbbVie makes more deals delaying adalimumab biosimilars in the US 

LATIN AMERICAN FORUM
The new section of the ‘Latin American Forum’ on GaBI has been launched. The objective of this new section is to provide you with all the latest news and updates on developments of generic and biosimilar medicines in Latin America in Spanish.

View the latest headline article: Barreras de la Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal (EII): un análisis de América Latina

Browse the news in the Latin American Forum!

Register to receive the GaBI Latin American Forum newsletter. Inform colleagues and friends of this new initiative.

FORO LATINOAMERICANO
Se ha lanzado la nueva sección del ‘Foro Latinoamericano’ sobre GaBI. El objetivo de esta nueva sección es brindarle las últimas noticias y actualizaciones sobre desarrollos de medicamentos genéricos y biosimilares en América Latina en español.

Ver el último artículo de cabecera: Barreras de la Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal (EII): un análisis de América Latina

!Explore las noticias en el Foro Latinoamericano!

Regístrese para recibir el boletín informativo GaBI Foro Latinoamericano. Informe a colegas y amigos sobre esta nueva iniciativa. 

 

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. US and EC approvals for Hyrimoz, US approval for Udenyca autoinjector [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Oct 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/news/us-and-ec-approvals-for-hyrimoz-us-approval-for-udenyca-autoinjector
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Coherus: lowest price adalimumab biosimilars announced [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Oct 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/news/coherus-lowest-price-adalimumab-biosimilars-announced
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of adalimumab [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Oct 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/Biosimilars-of-adalimumab
4. Derbyshire M. Patent expiry dates for biologicals: 2018 update. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2019;8(1):24-31. doi:10.5639/gabij.2019.0801.003

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2023 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.

comment icon Comments (0)
Post your comment
Most viewed articles
Sobre GaBI
INICIO/Sobre GaBI Posted 06/08/2009
EU guidelines for biosimilars
EMA logo 1 V13C15
INICIO/Directrices Posted 08/10/2010