Humira received approval for manufacturing and distribution in Japan on April 16, 2008, and was listed in the National Health Insurance drug price list on June 13, 2008.
After its launch, Abbott and Eisai will take a one-brand, one-channel and two-promotion scheme to ensure provision of information on proper use of Humira. Both Abbott and Eisai will provide specialist medical representatives (MRs), and Abbott will cooperate with Eisai’s hospital MRs.
The two companies will conduct postmarketing surveillance in patients receiving Humira during a certain period of time after launching to promote the effective and safe use of Humira.
Humira is said to be the world’s first fully-human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the activity of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), a protein that plays a central role in inflammatory reactions in patients with autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis.