Humira is the world’s best selling drug. The numbers tell us that (20 billion dollars in sales), as does my personal experience. A large number of my Social Security disability clients take Humira, or a similar drug. Most are taking it for arthritis, but apparently, doctors are prescribing it for a variety of other maladies. These include psoriasis, Crohn’s, and ulcerative colitis.
There does not seem to be a real dispute as to whether Humira works. So, what’s the problem?
A New Article Tells The Tales
A fascinating new article in Fortune magazine details the lengths to which the company that makes Humira, AbbVie, goes to protect their financial interest in this product. The article also does a nice job explaining what Humira is and how it works.
500 Million In Marketing? Seriously?
If you take this drug, you probably want to know more about Humira. What you learn, especially regarding the cut-throat marketing of the drug, might give you pause. Ponder, for example, that AbbVie spent just shy of 500 million dollars advertising this drug. AbbVie cannot sell Humira directly to consumers. Doctors have to write prescriptions. You have to wonder if some of that 500 million dollars were used to encourage, let’s say, doctors to write prescriptions. Perhaps prescriptions they would not have otherwise written. Perhaps yours.
Talk To Your Doctor
You should never stop taking a drug without consulting your doctor. But, after reading this article, you may have some more things to discuss with her about Humira and other drugs like it. For example, you might ask your doctor if she got anything of value from AbbVie to put you on Humira.
