{"id":3721,"date":"2019-02-22T13:45:16","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T18:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=3721"},"modified":"2024-06-10T17:39:21","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T21:39:21","slug":"enbrel-vs-humira","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/enbrel-vs-humira\/","title":{"rendered":"Enbrel vs. Humira: Differences, similarities, and which is better for you"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drug overview & main differences<\/a> | Conditions treated<\/a> | Efficacy<\/a> | Insurance coverage and cost comparison<\/a> | Side effects<\/a> | Drug interactions<\/a> | Warnings<\/a> | FAQ<\/a><\/p>\n

Enbrel<\/span> and <\/span>Humira<\/span> are two <\/span>brand-name<\/span> medications used for <\/span>rheumatoid arthritis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>juvenile idiopathic arthritis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>plaque psoriasis<\/span><\/a>, and various other inflammatory <\/span>autoimmune diseases<\/span>. They can help reduce <\/span>joint damage<\/span> and improve signs and symptoms of these conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Humira<\/span>\u2014but not <\/span>Enbrel<\/span>\u2014can also be used for <\/span>inflammatory bowel disease<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>IBD<\/span><\/a>, which includes <\/span>Crohn\u2019s disease<\/span> and <\/span>ulcerative colitis<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>hidradenitis suppurativa<\/span>, and uveitis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Humira<\/span> is made by AbbVie and has been the world\u2019s <\/span>top-selling drug<\/span><\/a> since 2012. <\/span>Enbrel<\/span> is made by <\/span>Amgen<\/span>, and is number 11 on the top-selling drug list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Enbrel<\/span> and <\/span>Humira<\/span> are both approved by the U.S. Food and <\/span>Drug Administration<\/span> (<\/span>FDA<\/span>). These drugs are known as <\/span>biologics<\/span>, and are <\/span>monoclonal <\/span>antibodies<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Enbrel<\/span> and <\/span>Humira<\/span> are categorized in a drug class called <\/span>tumor necrosis factor<\/span> blockers (<\/span>TNF blockers<\/span>). <\/span>TNF blockers<\/span> work by<\/span><\/a> blocking the activity of <\/span>tumor necrosis factor<\/span> (<\/span>TNF<\/span>). <\/span>TNF<\/span> is a substance in the body that causes inflammation. <\/span>TNF blockers<\/span>, also known as <\/span>TNF<\/span> inhibitors<\/span>, suppress the <\/span>immune system<\/span>, and block the activity of <\/span>TNF<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although <\/span>Enbrel<\/span> and <\/span>Humira<\/span> are both <\/span>TNF blockers<\/span>, they are not exactly the same. Continue reading below to learn more about <\/span>Enbrel<\/span> and <\/span>Humira<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the main differences between Enbrel vs. Humira<\/h2>\n

Enbrel<\/span> and <\/span>Humira<\/span> are both <\/span>TNF blockers<\/span>. <\/span>Enbrel<\/span><\/a> contains the ingredient <\/span>etanercept<\/span>. It is available as various single-dose prefilled injections. <\/span>Enbrel<\/span> is given <\/span>subcutaneously<\/span> (under the skin of the thigh, stomach, or outer upper arm). After proper training, <\/span>Enbrel<\/span> can be self-injected by the patient, or administered by a caregiver.<\/span><\/p>\n

Humira<\/span><\/a> contains the ingredient <\/span>adalimumab<\/span> and is available as a pen injection or a prefilled syringe injection. <\/span>Humira<\/span> is administered <\/span>subcutaneously<\/span>, under the skin of the thigh or stomach. <\/span>Humira<\/span> can be self-injected by the patient, or administered by a caregiver, after proper training.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, both drugs are available in the <\/span>brand-name<\/span> version only. <\/span>Biologic<\/span> drugs, such as <\/span>Enbrel<\/span> and <\/span>Humira<\/span>, do not have exact generic equivalents; instead, the <\/span>brand-name<\/span> drug is referred to as the reference product, and the <\/span>biosimilar<\/span> is highly similar<\/span><\/a> to the reference product. Some <\/span>biosimilars<\/span> have been approved for <\/span>Enbrel<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Humira<\/span><\/a>, but are not available yet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Main differences between Enbrel and Humira<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
<\/td>\nEnbrel<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nHumira<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drug class<\/b><\/td>\nTumor necrosis factor<\/span> blocker (<\/span>TNF blocker<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\nTumor necrosis factor<\/span> blocker (<\/span>TNF blocker<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brand\/generic status<\/b><\/td>\nBrand\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nBrand\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What is the generic name?<\/b><\/td>\nEtanercept<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nAdalimumab<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What form(s) does the drug come in?<\/b><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Single-dose prefilled SureClick <\/span>autoinjector<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Single-dose prefilled syringe<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Single-dose vial\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Enbrel<\/span> Mini single-dose prefilled cartridge (to use with AutoTouch reusable <\/span>autoinjector<\/span>)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Single-dose prefilled pen<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Single-dose prefilled syringe\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What is the standard dosage?<\/b><\/td>\nVaries\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nVaries\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
How long is the typical treatment?<\/b><\/td>\nVaries\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nVaries\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Who typically uses the medication?<\/b><\/td>\nAdults and children (age of child depends on indication; not every indication is approved for children)<\/span><\/td>\nAdults and children (age of child depends on indication; not every indication is approved for children)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Conditions treated by Enbrel and Humira<\/h2>\n

Enbrel<\/b> is approved for the treatment of:<\/span><\/p>\n