# How Dosing Humira for Rheumatoid Arthritis Works

> This patent defines the specific 40mg biweekly injection schedule for the drug Humira to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

- **Patent:** US 8889135
- **Original title:** Methods of administering anti-TNFα antibodies
- **Owner:** AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd
- **Granted:** 2014
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 15
- **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical

## What it does

The patent claims a specific treatment regimen for rheumatoid arthritis using a human anti-TNFα antibody. It mandates a 40 mg dose delivered subcutaneously (under the skin) once every 13 to 15 days. The antibody must contain specific amino acid sequences in its variable light and heavy chain regions, which are the parts of the protein that bind to the target molecule. By blocking TNFα, a protein involved in inflammation, the treatment aims to reduce the symptoms of the disease.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover the use of this antibody for conditions other than rheumatoid arthritis.
- Does not cover dosing schedules that fall outside the 13-15 day window.
- Does not cover doses other than 40 mg.
- Does not cover antibodies that lack the specific amino acid sequences defined in the claims.

## The clever bit

The innovation lies in identifying a 'sweet spot' for dosing—40 mg every two weeks—that balances therapeutic efficacy against the risk of side effects, turning a biological molecule into a standardized, predictable medical product.

## Real-world examples

1. Humira (adalimumab) pre-filled syringes
2. Humira (adalimumab) auto-injector pens

## Why it matters

This patent is central to the commercial life of Humira (adalimumab), one of the best-selling drugs in history. By patenting the specific dosing regimen, the assignee secured a way to maintain market exclusivity for the drug's application in rheumatoid arthritis long after the original molecule patent expired.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How Dosing Humira for Rheumatoid Arthritis Works cover?

This patent defines the specific 40mg biweekly injection schedule for the drug Humira to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

### Who owns patent US 8889135?

AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd owns this patent, granted in 2014.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on November 18, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 8889135 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 15 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent is central to the commercial life of Humira (adalimumab), one of the best-selling drugs in history. By patenting the specific dosing regimen, the assignee secured a way to maintain market exclusivity for the drug's application in rheumatoid arthritis long after the original molecule patent expired.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover the use of this antibody for conditions other than rheumatoid arthritis.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8889135/humira-biosimilar-barrier

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8889135

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._