Hadlima Is a Biosimilar to Humira Used to Treat Autoimmune Conditions Like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn's Disease, and Psoriasis

If your doctor has mentioned Hadlima — or you've seen it listed as an alternative to Humira — you probably have questions. This guide covers everything you need to know about Hadlima in 2026: what it is, what it treats, how it's taken, and what it costs.

What Is Hadlima?

Hadlima (adalimumab-bwwd) is a biologic medication and a biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab). It's manufactured by Organon LLC and was launched in the US in July 2023.

As a biosimilar, Hadlima is not a generic in the traditional sense — it's a biologic product that has been shown to be highly similar to its reference product (Humira) with no clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity, or effectiveness. Think of it as the biologic equivalent of a generic, but for complex protein-based drugs.

Hadlima belongs to a class of drugs called TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) blockers, also known as biologic DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs). It is not a controlled substance.

What Is Hadlima Used For?

Hadlima is FDA-approved to treat the following conditions:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (moderately to severely active) in adults
• Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years and older
• Psoriatic arthritis (active) in adults
• Ankylosing spondylitis (active) in adults
• Crohn's disease (moderately to severely active) in adults and children 6 years and older
• Ulcerative colitis (moderately to severely active) in adults
• Plaque psoriasis (moderate to severe chronic) in adults
• Hidradenitis suppurativa (moderate to severe) in adults
• Non-infectious uveitis (intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis) in adults

These are the same indications as Humira. Your doctor may prescribe Hadlima if you're starting biologic therapy for the first time or switching from Humira to save on costs.

How Is Hadlima Taken?

Hadlima is given as a subcutaneous injection — a shot just under the skin. Most patients self-inject at home after being trained by their healthcare provider.

Available Forms

• Hadlima PushTouch autoinjector — 40 mg/0.8 mL or 40 mg/0.4 mL (citrate-free)
• Prefilled syringe — 40 mg/0.8 mL or 40 mg/0.4 mL (citrate-free)
• Single-dose vial — 40 mg/0.8 mL (institutional use only)

The citrate-free formulations (40 mg/0.4 mL) tend to cause less injection site stinging.

Typical Dosing

For most conditions, the standard dose is 40 mg every other week. Some conditions require higher initial loading doses:

• Crohn's disease: 160 mg at week 0 (four 40 mg injections), then 80 mg at week 2, then 40 mg every other week starting at week 4
• Ulcerative colitis: 160 mg at week 0, 80 mg at week 2, then 40 mg every other week
• Plaque psoriasis: 80 mg initially, then 40 mg every other week starting one week after the first dose

Always follow your doctor's specific dosing instructions. For details on how Hadlima works, see our mechanism of action guide.

Injection Tips

• Inject in the thigh or abdomen (avoid the area around your belly button)
• Rotate injection sites — don't inject in the same spot twice in a row
• Let the prefilled syringe or autoinjector reach room temperature before injecting (about 15-30 minutes out of the fridge)
• Store Hadlima in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C)

Who Should Not Take Hadlima?

While there are no absolute contraindications listed in the prescribing information, Hadlima should not be started if you have an active infection. Your doctor will also evaluate you for:

• Latent tuberculosis (TB) — You must be tested before starting treatment
• Hepatitis B — The virus can reactivate during treatment
• Heart failure — Hadlima may worsen existing heart failure
• Demyelinating diseases — Conditions like multiple sclerosis
• Pregnancy — Not recommended; may affect the baby's immune system

For a complete list of side effects and warnings, read our Hadlima side effects guide. For information on drug interactions, see our interactions guide.

How Much Does Hadlima Cost?

Hadlima is significantly cheaper than Humira, which is one of its biggest advantages:

• Hadlima WAC (wholesale acquisition cost): approximately $1,038 per carton
• Humira WAC: approximately $6,922 per carton
• Cash price without insurance: roughly $1,000 to $1,500 per injection at retail pharmacies

That's a significant savings — but it's still an expensive medication. Here's how to lower your costs:

• Organon $0 co-pay card — Eligible commercially insured patients may pay nothing out of pocket
• Organon Assist — Patient assistance program for uninsured or underinsured patients
• Insurance coverage — Most commercial and Medicare plans cover Hadlima, often as a preferred biosimilar. Prior authorization is typically required.

For a detailed breakdown of all savings options, see our complete guide to saving money on Hadlima.

Final Thoughts

Hadlima is a well-established biosimilar that offers the same therapeutic benefits as Humira at a fraction of the cost. It's FDA-approved for nine autoimmune conditions, comes in convenient self-injection forms, and is supported by manufacturer savings programs.

If your doctor has recommended Hadlima, it's a proven treatment option worth considering. And if you need help finding it at a pharmacy near you, Medfinder can show you where it's available right now.