Adalimumab Biosimilars Take Center Stage: A Game Changer for IBD Treatment

Laura Wingate, from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, explains some of the challenges regarding educating patients and providers on biosimilars for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as whether the gastroenterology space is ready for the influx of adalimumab biosimilars.

July 2023—the moment the entire US biosimilar industry has been waiting for. This month 8 adalimumab biosimilars will launch on the market, and as of this recording, 7 have made their market debut. This represents the most biosimilars to launch in a single month and adalimumab is officially the drug class with the highest number of biosimilar options. These drugs all reference Humira, one of the most profitable drugs in the world, largely because it has 11 indications across the rheumatology, dermatology, immunology, and gastroenterology (GI) spaces.

In particular, adalimumab biosimilars open the doors for massive savings for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an umbrella term for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. However, like other treatment spaces, the GI space must overcome misconceptions and misinformation regarding the safety and efficacy of IBD biosimilars, highlighting the need for more education resources for patients and providers alike.

Today, I'm joined by Laura Wingate, executive vice president, education, support and advocacy at the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. She has been working with the foundation for over 16 years and has seen the market transform before her eyes as more gastrointestinal biosimilars enter the market. She is passionate about expanding access to IBD treatments and raising awareness about the emergence of IBD biosimilars, as well as their benefits and savings potentials.

Show notes

To learn more about the adalimumab products that have launched in the US so far, click here, here, here, or here.

Crohn's & Colitis Educational Resources:

  1. Biosimilars: What You Should Know 
  2. What is a Biosimilar Video