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Express Scripts Adds Cyltezo, Hyrimoz and an Unbranded Version of Hyrimoz to Its Main Formulary
Amgen’s Amjevita was already on the pharmacy benefit manager’s National Preferred Flex Formulary.
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Express Scripts, one of three dominant pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), announced today that it was adding three Humira (adalimumab) biosimilars to its main formulary.
The St. Louis-based PBM, which is part of Cigna’s health services subsidiary Evernorth, said it is putting Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm), a low-concentration formulation; Sandoz’s Hyrimoz (adalimumab-adaz), a high concentration formulation; and the unbranded version of adalimumab-adaz that Sandoz is selling.
Cyltezo is the only Humira biosimilar so far with an interchangeability designation from the FDA. Interchangeability means Humira can be swapped out for Cyltezo at the pharmacy, although in most states prescribers need to be notified of the change but only afterward. Boehringer Ingelheim has priced Cyltezo at 5% to 7% below Humira’s list price of $6,922 per month.
Related:Optum Rx Picks Hyrimoz and Cyltezo for Its Formulary
Sandoz has priced the branded version of Hyrimoz at 5% below Humira’s list price and the unbranded version at an 81% discount, which works out to $1,315.
Express Script had already put Amgen’s Humira biosimilar, Amjevita (adalimumab-atto), on its National Preferred Flex Formulary. Amjevita was launched in January, six months ahead of the surge of seven additional Humira biosimilar that launched during the first few days of July.
In the cage match of Humira biosimilars vying for commercial success, one of the major factors is placement on PBM formularies, the list of drugs that the PBMs cover.
Express Scripts’ announcement comes after Optum Rx, which is part of UnitedHealth Group, announced that it was putting Cyltezo and Hyrimoz on its formulary. Like Express Scripts, Optum Rx had put Amjevita on its formulary previously, when Amgen launched the biosimilar launched in late January 2023.
The third large PBM, CVS Caremark, has not made any announcements about which if any Humira biosimilars it will be adding to its formularies,.
Mark Cuban Assails PBMs at AAM meeting
February 15th 2023Cuban, of "Shark Tank' fame and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, called drugs prices ‘insane’ and used some profanity when talking pharmacy benefit managers at the annual meeting of the Association for Accessible Medicines yesterday. Cuban has co-founded an online pharmacy that he says will make drug prices lower and transparent.
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