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January 13, 2003
Abbott Laboratories recently announced the launch of the Humira Medicare Assistance Program, an unprecedented drug access program that will provide its newly approved rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug, Humira™ (adalimumab) at no cost to Medicare-eligible seniors without prescription drug coverage until a Medicare drug benefit is enacted.
Humira, recently approved by the FDA, is the first human monoclonal antibody approved for reducing the signs and symptoms and inhibiting the progression of structural damage in adults with moderately to severely active RA who have had insufficient response to one or more traditional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Humira was created using phage display technology, resulting in an antibody with human-derived heavy and light chains variable regions and human IgG1:K constant regions.
"Humira is an example of the positive impact pharmaceutical innovation can have for people living with chronic and debilitating conditions like RA," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott Laboratories. "To reinforce Abbott's commitment to providing access to our medications, we're initiating the Humira Medicare Assistance Program to help remove barriers to this important new medicine for seniors with RA."
The Humira Medicare Assistance Program ensures that Medicare-eligible seniors in need of a biologic treatment for RA who do not have prescription drug coverage will be able to receive Humira at no cost until a Medicare prescription drug benefit is enacted. Seniors interested in the program should talk with their health care provider. Eligible seniors will receive Humira directly from their health care provider, and access will continue as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. More information is available by calling 1-866-4-Humira.
"We always encourage companies to give seniors in need access to FDA approved drugs, like Abbott is doing with this new program," said Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "It is a top priority for the Administration to work with Congress to get a prescription drug benefit and I appreciate Abbott's support of that priority."
"Comprehensive Medicare reform with an affordable prescription drug benefit remains one of my top priorities in the 108th Congress," said Sen. John Breaux (D-La.). "I applaud Abbott's efforts to provide affordable medication options to seniors who are limited by current Medicare reimbursement. Until Medicare provides coverage for prescription drugs, programs like the Humira Medicare Assistance Program are good short-term solutions to improve access to newer treatments."
"We applaud Abbott for its successful development of Humira for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and the company's commitment to ensuring that Medicare recipients have access to this therapy," said Rep. Mark Kirk, (R-IL). "Abbott's commitment to provide this drug to all Medicare recipients who do not have access to any form of drug reimbursement plan is a further testament to their caring and compassionate approach until a Medicare prescription drug benefit is passed by Congress."
"As a rheumatologist, it's important to be able to make treatment decisions based on the appropriate medicine for the patient, not based on their prescription drug coverage," said Yvonne Sherrer, M.D., medical director and director of clinical research at the Center for Rheumatology, Immunology and Arthritis in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "Abbott's Humira Medicare Assistance Program allows me to be able to have this new medicine as an option, even for patients who don't have prescription drug coverage."
In addition to the Humira Medicare Assistance Program, Abbott is offering reimbursement information support through the Humira Resource Center. Through this resource center, patients with RA can find out about their options for prescription coverage for Humira through private insurance or eligibility for federal and state assistance programs, as well as other Abbott programs. Abbott has a Patient Assistance Program for patients in need who meet specific financial criteria to receive Humira at no cost.
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