3. METHOD OF PREPARATION
Humira is made by joining together DNA
molecules. It is what’s known as a biologic.
Biologic drugs are generally made from natural
sources such as human or animal proteins.
It is produced by recombinant DNA technology
using a mammalian cell expression system. It
consists of 1330 amino acids and has a molecular
weight of approximately 148 kilodaltons.
Biologic drugs create counterfeit antibodies to
trick the immune system. When a drug’s generic
name ends in ‘mab’, that stands for ‘monoclonal
antibody’.
4. MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY:
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-
produced molecules engineered to serve
as substitute antibodies that can restore,
enhance or mimic the immune system's
attack on cancer cells. They are designed
to bind to antigens that are generally
more numerous on the surface of cancer
cells than healthy cells.
5. ADALIMUMAB
Adalimumab, sold under the trade
name Humira , is a medication used to
treat various types of arthritis.
Adalimumab is a TNF-inhibiting, anti-
inflammatory, biologic medication. By binding to
TNFα, adalimumab reduces this inflammatory
response.
Because TNFα is also part of the immune
system, which protects the body from infection,
treatment with adalimumab may increase the risk
of infections.
6. MECHANISM OF ACTION OF ADALIMUMAB
It binds to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα),
which normally binds to TNFα receptors, leading
to the inflammatory response of autoimmune
diseases.
Blocks its interaction with the p55 and p75 cell
surface TNF receptors.
Lyses surface TNF expressing cells invitro.
By binding to TNFα, adalimumab reduces the
inflammatory response.
7. Over Humira’s lifetime, AbbVie has secured
more than 100 patents to prevent anyone
from attempting to copy the biologic, with
$16 billion in annual sales.
The more than 100 patents AbbVie has
secured over Humira’s lifetime make it
difficult for another company to replicate
the drug.
