Illustration of DNA strands and antibody molecules symbolizing autoimmune disease treatment

Adalimumab Biosimilars: Are They as Effective as the Original?

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Theo Raines in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A deep dive into the production and characterization of Adalimumab biosimilars, exploring their potential as cost-effective alternatives in autoimmune disease treatment."


Recombinant antibodies have revolutionized the treatment of autoimmune diseases, offering targeted therapies that can significantly improve patients' lives. These antibodies, produced in living cells, are complex proteins, and their effectiveness hinges on their precise structure and function. Post-translational modifications (PTMs), which occur after the protein is synthesized, play a crucial role in determining these characteristics.

Adalimumab, a well-known anti-TNF-α antibody, is a prime example of such a therapeutic. It works by neutralizing TNF-α, a key inflammatory molecule involved in autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. While Adalimumab has proven highly effective, its high cost has limited accessibility for many patients. This is where biosimilars come into play.

Biosimilars are essentially 'copycat' versions of original biologic drugs like Adalimumab. While not identical, they are designed to be highly similar in terms of safety and efficacy, offering a more affordable alternative. This article delves into the production and characterization of an Adalimumab biosimilar, comparing it to the original drug, Cinorra, to assess its potential as a cost-effective treatment option.

HEK-293T Cells: A Promising Platform for Adalimumab Production

Illustration of DNA strands and antibody molecules symbolizing autoimmune disease treatment

Traditionally, Adalimumab and its biosimilars are produced using Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. However, human cell lines like HEK-293T offer a compelling alternative. These cells are capable of producing proteins with human-like PTMs, potentially leading to better efficacy and reduced immunogenicity.

This study explores the use of HEK-293T cells for the transient production of an Adalimumab biosimilar. The researchers aimed to determine if the antibody produced by these human-derived cells exhibits similar characteristics to Cinorra, a commercially available Adalimumab biosimilar.

  • Structural Similarity: Circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed a strong structural similarity between the Adalimumab biosimilar produced in HEK-293T cells and Cinorra.
  • Binding Affinity: The biosimilar's ability to bind to and neutralize TNF-α was comparable to that of Cinorra, indicating similar efficacy in targeting the inflammatory molecule.
  • Biological Activity: The biosimilar effectively neutralized TNF-α-mediated cellular cytotoxicity, further demonstrating its functional similarity to Cinorra.
These findings suggest that HEK-293T cells offer a viable platform for producing Adalimumab biosimilars with comparable characteristics to existing options. The human-like PTMs produced by these cells could potentially enhance the biosimilar's safety and efficacy profile.

The Future of Adalimumab Biosimilars

The successful production and characterization of an Adalimumab biosimilar in HEK-293T cells holds significant implications for the future of autoimmune disease treatment. The potential for cost-effective production, coupled with the advantages of human-like PTMs, makes this platform a promising avenue for developing more accessible and potentially more effective therapies.

Further research is needed to fully explore the long-term effects and immunogenicity of Adalimumab biosimilars produced in HEK-293T cells. Clinical trials comparing these biosimilars to the original drug and other biosimilars will be crucial in establishing their safety and efficacy in real-world settings.

As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with rising drug costs, the development of affordable biosimilars like Adalimumab is paramount. Continued innovation in production platforms and rigorous characterization studies will pave the way for a future where effective autoimmune disease treatments are accessible to all who need them.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

1

What are Adalimumab biosimilars and how do they compare to the original biologic drug, such as Cinorra?

Adalimumab biosimilars are designed to be highly similar to the original biologic drug, like Cinorra, in terms of safety and efficacy. While not identical, the goal is to offer a more affordable alternative while maintaining a comparable therapeutic effect. These biosimilars aim to neutralize TNF-α, a key inflammatory molecule involved in autoimmune disorders.

2

What are HEK-293T cells, and why are they considered a promising platform for producing Adalimumab biosimilars?

HEK-293T cells are human cell lines that can produce proteins with human-like post-translational modifications (PTMs). This is significant because these PTMs can potentially lead to better efficacy and reduced immunogenicity of the Adalimumab biosimilar compared to those produced in other cell types like Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. The study explores using HEK-293T cells for transient production of Adalimumab biosimilars.

3

How did the Adalimumab biosimilar produced in HEK-293T cells compare to Cinorra in terms of structural similarity, binding affinity, and biological activity?

The Adalimumab biosimilar produced in HEK-293T cells demonstrated strong structural similarity to Cinorra using circular dichroism spectroscopy. Its ability to bind to and neutralize TNF-α was comparable to that of Cinorra, indicating similar efficacy in targeting the inflammatory molecule. Furthermore, the biosimilar effectively neutralized TNF-α-mediated cellular cytotoxicity, demonstrating its functional similarity to Cinorra.

4

What are Adalimumab and Cinorra, and why is there a need for exploring new production methods for biosimilars?

Adalimumab is a recombinant anti-TNF-α antibody used to treat autoimmune diseases. It works by neutralizing TNF-α, a key inflammatory molecule. Cinorra is a commercially available Adalimumab biosimilar. Both Adalimumab and Cinorra are expensive, which limits accessibility. Biosimilars like Cinorra aim to provide a more cost-effective alternative, but the study explores producing Adalimumab biosimilars using HEK-293T cells as a promising platform.

5

What are the potential implications of using HEK-293T cells for producing Adalimumab biosimilars on the future of autoimmune disease treatment?

The use of HEK-293T cells to produce Adalimumab biosimilars holds significant implications for autoimmune disease treatment. It suggests the potential for cost-effective production with the advantages of human-like post-translational modifications. This could lead to more accessible and potentially more effective therapies. The study's focus on structural similarity, binding affinity, and biological activity supports the feasibility of this approach.

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