The US launch of Amgen, Inc.’s Amjevita – the first biosimilar of AbbVie Inc.’s blockbuster Humira (adalimumab) – is off to a slow start. The company reported second quarter sales on 3 August, with US sales of Amjevita declining versus the first quarter, which the company attributed to inventory stocking associated with the launch in January.
Key Takeaways
- Amgen reported solid second quarter financial results, including 6% top-line growth.
- Sales of the Humira biosimilar Amjevita grew globally but were only $19m in the US.
- Amgen remains confident the Horizon merger will close in December despite FTC challenge
Amgen had the US biosimilar market to itself initially following the product launch on 31 January, but other biosimilar versions of Humira joined the market in July. Amjevita is being closely watched by investors, given the size of the Humira commercial market, but uptake of biosimilars is of interest to health care stakeholders more generally given the opportunity to lower health care spending
