Four adalimumab biosimilars are now available on the PBS, giving Australian rheumatologists the option of prescribing an alternative to AbbVies’s originator, Humira, for the first time.

The new biosimilars are Amgevita (Amgen), Hadlima (MSD), Hyrimoz (Sandoz), and Idacio (Fresenius Kabi) and, like Humira, they’re indicated for severe disease in active rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, active juvenile idiopathic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

The biosimilars are ‘a-flagged’, meaning that they can be substituted for each other and for the originator (at the same dose and strength) by a dispensing pharmacist, unless the prescribing doctor has stipulated that brand substitution should not occur.

The secretary of the Australian Rheumatology Association Dr Helen Cooley says the four biosimilars can be prescribed with streamlined authority for continuing use but this is only after the first continuing use script.