can anyone help?

[Kate2628]

I’m going on a new medication soon, just wanted to know if Idacio is the same as. Adalimumab/Humira which I was told I was going on, really confused and finding all a bit stressful after waiting so long to start new drug. Thanks Kate.

[bpeal1]

Idacio is a biosimilar (a different brand) of adalimumab.

[Kate2628 in reply to bpeal1]

Thanks bpeal1every thing is so confusing!

[Hidden]

As per your other reply. Adalimumab is the original drug, which was branded Humira. There are now about half a dozen other brands available, which are biosimilars to Humira, including amgevita, imraldi, and idacio. Biosimilars are almost completely identical to the original drug, the only exception usually being cost: they’re a lot cheaper. It’s the equivalent of buying nurofen over supermarket own brand ibuprofen: does exactly the same job in exactly the same way, just a fraction of the price.

[Kate2628 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Charlie for All the information it really helps when waiting to go on a new drug. Kate

[Hidden in reply to Kate2628]

No worries. I ended up off everything for 6 months prior to starting on imraldi due to liver issues, so I know what it’s like.

[Nyreedw in reply to Hidden]

They aren't loads cheaper and not the same as buying otc ibuprofen etc. They are molecularly different hence biosimilar not generic and difference in price is only £71 per 2 injections. I have a full ingredients list and costing of them all. Humira is £704 for 2 injections biosimilars are £633 for 2 x

[Hidden in reply to Nyreedw]

Not entirely sure why you’ve taken a dislike to my reply and not the two others saying the same thing as me, which is that the primary difference is the excipients, not the drug itself. I agree I’ve simplified it significantly, but for the purpose of the job, which was to reassure the OP that they’re still getting what they thought they were getting, I maintain that the ibuprofen comparison was an effective example. In both cases the active drug does the same job, in the same way, but the excipients are generally different. I’d also say that saving 10% a month on medication is significantly cheaper to the NHS when they have thousands of patients on it, but I’m not looking to get into an argument.

[Paula-C in reply to Hidden]

They are not the same drug they are similar, hence they are called bio 'similar'. They are not a generic drug like ibuprofen. They are a copy of the original but not an exact copy.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Kate. As has already been said Icacio is the biosimilar of adalimumab (Humira, the first approved version of adalimumab). Not sure if you know how & why but if you don't a biosimilar is virtually identical, considered as safe & as effective as the original biologic. It has to have the same medicinal ingredient but can differ in excipients or non-medicinal ingredients such as water, various different sodiums etc. Doses & administration is the same. This does also mean though that side effects may be similar, should you have any.

Biosimilars are made using more cost-effective ways to recreate the molecules developed in the original, the greater cost in the first instance. This is one big reason for their development once the original's patent expires, especially so with Humira as I think it's the most costly med of this class prescribed in the NHS. Other biosimilars are out there but it's this one in particular that is of interest to you. They are still tested rigorously but less time is needed, the hard work in the original has been done meaning extensive clinical trials aren't being duplicated, this way they can be licensed & marketed sooner. They obviously save the NHS money too.

Something which does seem to often be the case is those who are changed from the biologic to it's biosimilar don't seem to find they work as well whereas those who are started on the biosimilar find they work well. I hope this is the case for you with Idacio.

[Kate2628 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks Nomoreheels, for all the information , just hoping the new drug works and it’s not too much longer l have to wait, Kate.

[Nyreedw]

It is a biosimilar of humira. It is molecularly different hence biosimilar not generic. Base ingredients is the same it's the rest that's different. If you Google it, you can find all the different adalimumabs with costing g and ingredients x