Cheaper competition for Humira is hitting the market, but savings will depend on your insurance

By TOM MURPHY
AP Health Writer

Patients who take the autoimmune disease treatment Humira may see some price relief when several lower-cost, biosimilar versions of the AbbVie drug reach the U.S. market in July. But lower pharmacy bills may not happen right away for some patients, if at all. It’ll depend largely on how pharmacy benefit managers and insurers handle the new products. Biosimilars are lower-cost versions of a biologic drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration after regulators determine that they are highly similar to the original product. Scientists make biologic drugs from living cells.