Humira Biosimilar Hulio Launches with Two-Tiered Pricing

Biocon Biologics has launched Hulio (adalimumab-fkjp) injection, a biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab). Hulio is being offered with two options: a list price of 5% below the current Humira list price, and at a price that 85% below the current Humira list price, which is currently about $6,922 for a four-week supply. Humira is indicted for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Like Humira, Hulio is citrate-free and is made without natural rubber latex (to help reduce hypersensitivity reactions). It is offered in a prefilled pen. Biocon Biologics also offers HULIO360, a patient support program that includes benefits verification and prior authorization support, copay assistance, a bridge program for eligible patients, and at-home nurse injection training.

“Biocon Biologics is pleased to make Hulio, a patient-friendly, two-click, prefilled pen available in the United States for patients with certain inflammatory diseases,” said Mathew Erick, chief commercial officer of Advanced Markets, Biocon Biologics, said in a press release. “There are no buttons to push. Patients remove the cap and push the device against their skin to trigger their injection. Designed and built with patients in mind, healthcare professionals and patients don’t have to miss a beat with Hulio; they simply, ‘Click, Click, Go.’”

This is second Humira biosimilar to have a two-tier pricing. Amgen’s Amjevita, which launched in January, also offer the same two-tiered pricing scheme. At the time of Amjevita’s launch, it was unclear whether or how much money the two-tier pricing would save.

“The pricing model is meant to provide options for all payers, including commercial and government, as well as for private access to patients, Renee Rayburg, RPh, vice president, specialty clinical consulting, Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG), told Formulary Watch at the time. “The 5% model allows for PBMs to collect rebates that go to the payers and the 55% discount lowers the price and provides access for those in a high-deductible, consumer directed health plan.”

Related: Will the Biosimilar Amjevita Lower Costs?

Hulio is the fourth biosimilar, so far, to provide pricing information. This announcement comes two days after Organon and Samsung Bioepis announced they had launched the biosimilar Hadlima, (adalimumab-bwwd) with list price that is an 85% discount off the reference product Humira. Hadlima is available in both citrate-free high concentration and citrate-containing low concentration. A carton including two pre-filled pens or two pre-filled syringes is available at a list price of $1,038. Organon is also offering a copay support program for as little as $0 copay, as well as a patient assistance program and dedicated nurse coaches.

Last month, Coherus BioScience announced that it would provide Yusimry with a list price of $995 per carton.