AbbVies rising immunology star Skyrizi scores nod from Englands cost watchdog.

With long time immunology blockbuster Humira on the decline, AbbVie is looking to next-gen competitor Skyrizi to chip in. A nod from England's cost watchdog could help. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended (PDF) Skyrizi as a second-line treatment for severe plaque psoriasis in adults who've failed on conventional treatments such as ciclosporin, methoxotrate and phototherapy. In its final appraisal, NICE said second-line Skyrizi was more effective for plaque psoriasis than Humira and Johnson & Johnson’s Il-12/23 med Stelara and similar in health benefits to J&J’s Tremfya, a head-to-head IL-23 competitor. AbbVie has touted Skyrizi as a cost-effective alternative to its closest immunology rivals. That growing field includes the aging anti-TNF class, IL-23 and IL-12/23 inhibitors, and next-gen IL-17 inhibitors like Novartis’ Cosentyx, Eli Lilly’s Taltz and Bausch Health’s Siliq. That cost edge is one reason Skyrizi rolled out a pricing plan in April to include an $88,500 first-year price on the new med—inclusive of two starter doses—and $59,000 maintenance doses.