AbbVie's Unfazed by the Risk of Generic Humira

Over 60% of AbbVie Inc.’s (NYSE: ABBV) sales come from demand for Humira -- an autoimmune-disease drug prescribed to patients with a variety of conditions -- that racks up sales of $16 billion per year. Humira is also world’s top selling medicine.

AbbVie’s heavy reliance on Humira has investors nervous about what happens when Humira loses its patent protection, but perhaps, those worries are overblown based on what AbbVie’s management is telling investors.

Humira was discovered by AbbVie in 1996, and its composition of matter patent expired at the end of 2016. The composition of matter patent arguably provided Humira with its best patent protection, but AbbVie believes other patents it’s been granted over the years for manufacturing, method of use, and formulation still give it plenty of patent cover.

Continue reading


Source: Fool.com