Humira Tops PMLive's 50 Biggest Pharma Brands 2014 List

AbbVie’s flagship product Humira retained its top spot in the PMLive Top Pharma List as the biggest pharmaceutical brand for the year 2014.

The ranking of the pharmaceutical industry’s 50 biggest products is conducted by GlobalData for PMLive. Humira’s (adalimumab) potential for multiple profitable indications helped it capture and keep the top spot in the list. In addition, new approved uses in areas such as ulcerative colitis and psoriasis pushed Humira ahead of its rivals.

With over $11 million in sales for 2013, Humira is way ahead of Remicade ($9,935 million), Enbrel ($8,897 million), Seretide/Advair ($8,356 million), and Abilify ($8,031 million). Last year the five top-performing drugs also led the list, with Abilify at the fourth spot and Advair at the fifth. PMLive noted that the top three products for this year’s list were all biologic treatments, indicating that the category is showing continued growth.

Adalimumab is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis, moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic immune disease that causes thick, scaly areas of the skin by speeding up the growth cycle of skin cells. The disease may be triggered by stress, skin injuries, medications, and infections. Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the U.S.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic auto-immune disease that causes the immune system to attack the body’s own tissues, specifically the thin membrane synovium lining the joints. The disease is one of the most common and serious forms of arthritis.

Last month AbbVie announced the initiation of a pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating the use of Humira for fingernail psoriasis in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis, for which there are no approved treatments to date.