Global sales of Humira, the blockbuster drug that treats autoimmune diseases like arthritis and psoriasis, hit $19.9 billion in 2018, an 8.2% increase from 2017, AbbVie reported Friday. AbbVie has collected more than $115 billion in global Humira sales since 2010, 58% of which has come from the U.S.
The bottom line: AbbVie has made and will continue to make a lot of money from Humira. But cheaper copycat versions in Europe are expected to erode sales by $2 billion this year, which sent AbbVie's stock reeling.
By the numbers: A 2-pen box of Humira in the U.S. now retails for almost $5,200, following AbbVie's 6.2% price increase on the medicine. Rebates for Humira average around 40%, so that means U.S. patients who are on typical doses are paying more than $40,000 per year for Humira — the approximate cost of a Ford F-150 pickup truck and a little less than a Tesla Model 3.