Peter Wehrwein, Managing Editor

A large percentage of patients starting a medication take expensive brand-name products instead of biosimilars, even as health plans and PBMs work on converting existing brand-name prescriptions to biosimilars.

New prescriptions weren’t needed because Selarsdi (ustekinumab-aekn) and Pyzchiva (ustekinumab-ttwe) interchangeable with Stelara (ustekinumab)

Scripius removed Stelara (ustekinumab) from its large employer formulary and replaced it with Pyzchiva (ustekinumab-ttwe) and Selarsdi (ustekinumab-aekn)

Rather than broadly recommend COVID-19 shots, the advisory committee recommends making it an individual decision guided by shared decision-making with a healthcare professional.

Sabin Nsanzimana, M.D., Ph.D., the country’s top health official, credits supportive care and access to investigational treatments, including remdesivir, with keeping the case fatality rate low in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A half-dozen takeaways from an MJH Life Sciences webinar on the Trump administration's push for most-favored nation drug pricing

Scripius formulary executive Cody Olsen, Pharm.D., discusses some of the key ingredients to a successful switch to biosimilars.

Jennie Barlow, Pharm.D., MBA, associate vice president, pharmacy industry relations for Scripius, discusses cost savings from removing Jardiance (empagliflozin) as a preferred SGLT2 inhibitor and replacing it with Brenzavvy (bexagliflozin).

Serge Perras, MBA, says AI has made a meaningful difference in medication therapy management processes at Abarca, but he warned against repeating the overexuberance about technology for its own sake that led to the dot-com boom and bust.

IAS 2025, the 13th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science, was held in Kigali, Rwanda, July 13-17. Here is a sample of our coverage of the meeting.

Employers are shopping around, according to panelists at a session at the 2025 PBMI meeting in Orlando. Transparency and a "true partnership" are among the attributes they are looking for.

Joe Boyle shared proactive compliance strategies for PBMs at PBMI 2025, highlighting the need to adapt to evolving regulations for sustainable growth.

PBMs navigate increasing regulatory demands for transparency, as Joe Boyle stressed the need for robust data management and strategic compliance at PBMI 2025.

At the PBMI 2025 Conference, ClearFile president Joe Boyle encouraged PBMs to attend NAIC meetings, stressing that showing up and maintaining relationships with regulators is critical for long-term success.

The risk varies with the antibiotic, though. Piperacillin and clavulanate boosted the risk. The third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins did not.

Four other top officials at the public health agency have resigned, according to news reports.

Two of the studies are of controversial post-vaccination syndrome.

Kasey Raetz, Pharm.D., vice president at Express Scripts and a winner of the PBMI Innovator Award, told MHE she takes pride in the role pharmacy benefit managers play in helping patients access needed care while supporting health plans in managing a complex system.

In this second part of a three-part of a video series, Kasey Raetz, Pharm.D., a PBMI Innovator, told MHE about leading the development of EncircleRx, a program that balances patient access, holistic weight loss support and financial protection for health plans amid soaring demand for GLP-1 drugs.

In this final video of a three-part video series, Joshua Fredell, Pharm.D., senior vice president at CVS Caremark and a winner of Managed Healthcare Executive’s PBMI Innovator Award, said most health plans prioritize achieving the lowest net drug costs, whether through rebates, lower list prices or biosimilars.

In this second video of a three-part series, Joshua Fredell, Pharm.D., senior vice president at CVS Caremark, said innovation in PBMs comes from simplifying pricing, offering flexible benefit designs, and using technology to create a smoother experience for members.

Wykoff discussed treating geographic atrophy in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration and his presentation of the results of the COAST trial that was halted earlier this year.

Kasey Raetz, Pharm.D., transitioned from working at a small independent pharmacy to leading product and pharma contracting strategy at Express Scripts, earning a PBMI Innovator Award for her creative solutions in the evolving pharmacy benefit market.

Vice president of product and pharma contracting and strategy at Express Scripts

In his second video interview with Managed Healthcare Executive, PBMI Innovator Award winner David Blair discusses why breaking up traditional pharmacy benefit manager models is key to improving transparency, reducing conflicts of interest and delivering better outcomes.

In a video interview with MHE editors, Sharon Faust, Pharm.D., MBA, senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Navitus Health Solutions, shared that while she originally saw herself as a scientist focused on patient care, she found that her skills in problem-solving and critical thinking were a natural fit for the business side of healthcare.

Senior vice president, chief pharmacy officer, Navitus Health Solutions