The FDA approved Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) as a biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab) for multiple inflammatory diseases, including moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis, moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, and moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Arthritis is a chronic and disabling condition that can significantly impact work-related activity. Arthritis medications commonly prescribed in workers' compensation include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac or meloxicam. Specialty medications like Amjevita or Humira, which suppress autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, are not as common because they are typically prescribed to treat the underlying condition rather than manage the work-related injury. However, knowledge of medications like Amjevita can provide insight into an injured worker's overall health and medication regimen.
Biosimilars are generally derived from living organisms and can come from many sources, including humans, animals, microorganisms and yeast. Biosimilars are approved when they are shown to be highly similar to an already-approved biologic product with no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety, purity or potency. The continued development of biosimilars could lead to increased affordability and access to biologic medications.
For further information, read the FDA's news release on Amjevita.