Alvotech将为Crina的Quallent生产Humira生物仿制药

Alvotech (NASDAQ:ALVO) has confirmed it will manufacture a high-concentration biosimilar of AbbVie’s (ABBV) blockbuster drug Humira for Cigna’s (CI) Quallent Pharmaceuticals.

The Icelandic drugmaker said the Quallent deal is in alignment with its US commercialization agreement with Teva (TEVA) for biosimilars of Humira, which lost patent protection last year. Humira is also known as adalimumab.

Last week, Cigna said it planned to offer a biosimilar of Humira through its Quallent unit that would be around 85% cheaper than branded Humira. The biosimilar would also be available with no out-of-pocket costs to eligible patients through Quallent’s copay assistance program.

Alvotech said Monday that it planned to produce a high-concentration, citrate-free biosimilar of Humira, which will be distributed under Quallent’s private label. The company said that nearly 88% of US prescriptions for adalimumab are for high-concentration formulations.

The FDA approved Alvotech’s biosimilar for Humira in February 2024. Under the company’s agreement with Teva, Alvotech is responsible for development and manufacturing, with Teva overseeing US commercialization of the product.

Last August, CVS launched a new division called Cordavis that would be focused on marketing biosimilars, with a Sandoz’s (OTCQX:SDZNY) biosimilar of Humira slated to be its first product.