News Briefs: Startup PBM Closes $100m Funding Round

Startup PBM Rightway on March 30 closed a $100 million Series C financing round, the firm said. According to Rightway, that means the startup is now valued at $1.1 billion. A press release discussing the funding round claims that the firm now serves more than 500,000 members and 850 clients. Rightway, which touts its transparency to prospective clients, also claimed that it generates “an average of 20% reduction in year 1 pharmacy cost savings.”

Payers doubt that state prescription drug affordability boards (PDABs) will have an effect on prescription costs any time soon, according to a survey by Avalere Health. As part of its survey, Avalere conducted “six double-blinded interviews with health plan representatives.” Among the states that have established PDABs, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington granted their boards the authority to set upper payment limits (UPLs.) According to Avalere, “all interviewees agreed that UPL-affected drugs or their competitors in the therapeutic class could see greater utilization management…depending on how manufacturers respond to supply chain changes, rebating, and UPL implementation.” In addition, five of six interviewees said they “expect formulary adjustments.” Colorado’s was the first PDAB to propose a UPL, but that has been challenged by the affected drug manufacturer. As a result, interviewed Colorado payers “are not yet actively preparing for a UPL,” expecting that the actual UPL won’t come into effect for “more than a year.”