Key takeaways:
Biologic treatments are medications derived from living or natural sources instead of chemicals. Rather than generics, biologics have biosimilars that are nearly identical to their reference products and generally cost less.
Humira (adalimumab), Remicade (infliximab), and Stelara (ustekinumab) are three popular biologic medications that have biosimilars. These medications are FDA approved to treat autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and psoriasis.
Biosimilars generally cost less than their reference biologics. Switching to a biosimilar medication may be able to help reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Save on related medications
Humira (adalimumab), Remicade (infliximab), and Stelara (ustekinumab) are injectable biologic medications that treat various autoimmune disorders.
If you have been prescribed a biologic, you may be wondering if there is a lower-cost version. The cost of these medications prevents some people from using them as prescribed — or at all.
What are biologics?
Biologic medications come from living or natural sources, not simple chemicals. Because of their complex production process, biologics don’t have generic versions. Instead, they have biosimilars, which are nearly the same as their reference — or “brand-name” — medication.
Humira, Remicade, and Stelara are three popular biologics that have biosimilars. There are also some interchangeable biosimilars that have received additional FDA approval. The approval allows your pharmacy, in some states, to substitute an interchangeable biosimilar for a biologic without contacting your prescriber.
You can find out if a biologic has a biosimilar available by using the FDA’s biosimilar product information search tool.
How much money do you save by using biosimilars?
Biologic medications can be tough on the budget for many people — and so can their biosimilars. How much you save depends on the medication, whether you have insurance, and if you qualify for discounts.
At the time of launch, the average biosimilar price is more than 50% lower than the price of its reference biologic. In addition, the increased competition from biosimilars has prompted biologics manufacturers to lower their prices. Biosimilars saved U.S. consumers more than $9 billion in 2022.
Some biosimilar manufacturers also offer copay cards to reduce out-of-pocket costs for people with health insurance and patient assistance programs to make medication affordable for people who are underinsured or without insurance.
Humira savings
Humira treats many autoimmune disorders. These are some of them:
Humira’s versatility is part of what helped turn it into such a well-known and widely used medication. But more than two decades after Humira entered the market, it lost its patent monopoly in 2023. Several Humira biosimilars launched in the U.S. that year, including two interchangeables, and the prices of half of them significantly reduced consumer costs.
Competition from these less-costly biosimilars are expected to cut future Humira sales and increase consumer savings. Some insurance formularies have dropped Humira in favor of biosimilars, so your savings will depend on your insurance.
As of January 2026, the list price of Humira — without negotiations or discounts — was over $6,900 for a 4-week supply.
AbbVie savings programs
AbbVie, the manufacturer of Humira, offers these programs to help with out-of-pocket costs:
Copay assistance: Eligible consumers with commercial insurance may be able to pay as little as $0 per month with a Humira Complete savings card. You will need to enroll in the Humira Complete program to receive your Humira Complete savings card and present it to your pharmacy to receive the discount.
Rebate assistance: If your pharmacy doesn’t accept your savings card, you may be able to get a Humira for as little as $0 a month through a rebate for the amount you paid out of pocket for your prescription. To learn more, call 1-800-448-6472 and speak to an insurance specialist.
Uninsured or limited coverage: If you don’t have health insurance or have a difficult time paying for Humira, you may qualify for the myAbbVie Assist, which is a patient assistance program that provides medications at no cost to eligible consumers.
Other patient assistance programs
Other sources of financial help are available for people who need Humira from the following resources:
PAN Foundation: This organization offers grants to help pay for Humira for people with certain conditions. Use the search tool to find your condition and see if the fund is open for applications.
Patient Advocate Foundation: This foundation provides help with out-of-pocket medical costs for at least one condition that Humira treats.
The Assistance Fund: This patient assistance organization provides help with out-of-pocket medical costs for several conditions that Humira treats.
Humira biosimilars and savings
Ten Humira biosimilars are currently available in the U.S.:
Humira biosimilar savings programs
Patient assistance programs | Copay assistance programs |
|---|---|
Pfizer enCompass for copay assistance | |
Amgen Support+ for copay assistance | |
BI Solutions Plus for copay assistance | |
Hadlima For You for copay assistance | |
Adalimumab-fkjp Copay Assistance Program for copay assistance | |
Sandoz One Source for copay assistance | |
KabiCare for copay assistance | |
Celltrion Cares for copay assistance | |
Yusimry | Yusimry Solutions for copay assistance |
Simlandi | Simlandi Savings Program for copay assistance |
What's more, anyone with a valid prescription can use GoodRx to purchase two adalimumab-adbm pens at an exclusive cash price of $550. This is the unbranded version of Cyltezo. You can also use GoodRx to purchase two Amjevita pens at an exclusive cash price of $299.
Remicade savings
Remicade is another biologic that treats autoimmune disorders, such as:
Ankylosing spondylitis
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Psoriatic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Remicade is an infusion administered by a healthcare professional.
Remicade savings programs
Janssen Biotech, the manufacturer of Remicade, offers at least one program to help consumers with out-of-pocket costs:
Copay assistance: Eligible consumers with private or commercial health insurance may be able to pay as little as $5 per infusion with a $20,000 maximum benefit annually through the Janssen CarePath savings program. You can also call 1-877-227-3728 for assistance. People covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or another government program do not qualify.
Other patient assistance programs
Financial help is available for people who need Remicade from the following resources:
PAN Foundation: This organization offers grants to help pay for Remicade for people with certain conditions. Use the search tool to find your condition and see if the fund is open for applications.
Patient Advocate Foundation: This foundation provides help with out-of-pocket medical costs for at least one condition that Remicade treats.
The Assistance Fund: This patient assistance organization provides help with out-of-pocket medical costs for several conditions that Remicade treats.
Remicade biosimilars and savings
There are three Remicade biosimilars available in the U.S.:
Avsola
Renflexis
Though not technically a biosimilar, Zymfentra — a version of infliximab that you inject under the skin at home — also was approved in 2023.
Remicade biosimilar savings program
Patient assistance programs | Copay assistance programs |
Amgen Support+ for copay assistance | |
Pfizer enCompass for copay assistance | |
Organon Access Program for copay assistance |
Stelara savings
Stelara is another biologic. It’s approved to treat conditions including:
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Plaque psoriasis
Psoriatic arthritis
Stelara is an injectable medication given at a clinic or at home. One injection every 8 weeks can cost over $20,000 without any insurance or discounts.
Stelara savings programs
Janssen Biotech, Stelara’s manufacturer, offers these programs to help consumers with out-of-pocket costs:
Copay assistance: Eligible people with private or commercial health insurance may be able to pay as little as $5 per dose through the Stelara With Me savings program. You can also call 1-844-494-8463 for assistance. People covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or another government program do not qualify.
Rebate assistance: If you can’t use the copay assistance, you may be able to get a Stelara rebate for your out-of-pocket spending up to as much as $6,000 a year. To learn more, call 1-844-494-8463.
Other patient assistance programs
Financial help is available for people who need Stelara from the following resources:
PAN Foundation: This organization offers grants to help pay for Stelara for people with certain conditions. Use the search tool to find your condition and see if the fund is open for applications.
Patient Advocate Foundation: This foundation provides help with out-of-pocket medical costs for at least one condition that Stelara treats.
The Assistance Fund: This patient assistance organization provides help with out-of-pocket medical costs for several conditions that Stelara treats.
Stelara biosimilars and savings
In 2023, the FDA approved Wezlana, the first biosimilar for Stelara. Several more Stelara biosimilars have since followed suit, including:
Stelara biosimilar savings programs
Patient assistance programs | Copay assistance programs |
|---|---|
Wezlana Co-Pay Program for copay assistance | |
Selarsdi | Selarsdi Savings Program for copay assistance |
KabiCare for copay assistance | |
AccordCares for copay assistance | |
My Biocon Biologics for copay assistance | |
Celltrion Cares for copay assistance | |
Starjemza | N/A |
Frequently asked questions
Many insurance plans cover biosimilars, including private insurance plans and Medicare. But coverage varies by plan and formulary. Some plans may prefer certain biosimilars over the original biologic, while others may require prior authorization or have other restrictions.
Biosimilars tend to cost less because manufacturers can build on the original biologic’s existing research. This means they don’t have to repeat the full development process, which lowers costs. Biosimilars still go through strict testing to make sure they’re as safe and effective as the original product, but their approval pathway is generally shorter and less expensive.
Many insurance plans cover biosimilars, including private insurance plans and Medicare. But coverage varies by plan and formulary. Some plans may prefer certain biosimilars over the original biologic, while others may require prior authorization or have other restrictions.
Biosimilars tend to cost less because manufacturers can build on the original biologic’s existing research. This means they don’t have to repeat the full development process, which lowers costs. Biosimilars still go through strict testing to make sure they’re as safe and effective as the original product, but their approval pathway is generally shorter and less expensive.
The bottom line
Humira (adalimumab), Remicade (infliximab), and Stelara (ustekinumab) can cost thousands of dollars per prescription. In some cases, a GoodRx coupon can help lower the price. But bigger savings are often available through manufacturer copay cards, rebates, and patient assistance programs.
You may also be able to cut your costs in half — or even more — by switching to a biosimilar (a biologic alternative). Biosimilars for Humira, Remicade, and Stelara offer similar benefits and often have their own copay cards and patient assistance programs.
Why trust our experts?
References
Abbvie. (n.d.). Cost & savings.
Association for Accessible Medicines. (2023). Generic and biosimilar drugs generate $408 billion in savings for America’s patients and health-care system in 2022.
Fein, A. J. (2024). The big three PBMs’ 2024 formulary exclusions: biosimilar Humira battles, CVS health’s weird strategy, and the insulin shakeup. Drug Channels.
Jeremias, S. (2023). FDA approves first subcutaneous infliximab product. AJMC.
Langley, K. (2024). Biosimilars to watch in 2024. RxBenefits.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026). Biosimilar product information.
Walker, L. (2023). AbbVie's blockbuster drug Humira finally loses its 20-year, $200 billion monopoly. NPR.
Wingrove, P. (2024). CVS will remove AbbVie's Humira from some drug reimbursement lists in April. Reuters.
