The formulation of Humira (adalimumab) prefilled pens and prefilled syringes is being changed. The changeover from the original formulation to the new formulation is being rolled out in different countries at different times.

Humira’s original formulation is known to cause stinging on injection. AbbVie, the makers, have been working on a new formulation to try to reduce this. They have removed citrate and some of the other extra ingredients from the original formulation used in the prefilled pens and prefilled syringes. This also means that the volume of liquid in each pen and syringe can be reduced, so the new formulation pens and syringes contain 40mg adalimumab in 0.4ml, compared with the original formulation pens and syringes which contain 40mg adalimumab in 0.8ml. The actual adalimumab dose in the new formulation pens and syringes is exactly the same as in the original formulation pens and syringes.

The situation as at February 2017 is:

UK: new formulation pens and syringes were introduced in July 2016 (the paediatric 40mg/0.8ml vials are still supplied in the original formulation).

US: original formulation is still in use: pens, syringes and paediatric vials.

Canada: original formulation is still in use: pens, syringes and paediatric vials. Launch of new formulation pens and syringes is planned for 2017.

Other countries: no information.

If birdshotters using Humira could let BUS know when their country changes over to the new formulation, we would be very grateful. We would also like to hear of your experiences with the new formulation, particularly if you have previously used the original formulation.