PBM Moves Spur Humira Biosimilar Uptake but Raise Questions

  • May 09, 2024

    The FDA has approved 10 biosimilars of AbbVie Inc.’s Humira (adalimumab), with nine of them launching in the U.S. since last year, but uptake of them has been relatively slow. Recently, though, a formulary change by CVS Health seems to have spurred uptake of the agents, and an upcoming change by The Cigna Group should boost their use again. However, some industry experts question whether those changes were made with an eye on increasing biosimilar access — or boosting their own profits.

    On April 25, Evernorth Health Services, a subsidiary of Cigna, revealed that it will have a high- and low-concentration interchangeable Humira biosimilar for zero dollars in out-of-pocket costs for “eligible patients” of its specialty pharmacy, Accredo, starting in June. The product, according to a press release, “will be produced for Evernorth’s affiliate private label pharmaceutical distributor, Quallent Pharmaceuticals, through agreements with multiple manufacturers.”

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  • Angela Maas

    Angela has an extensive background of editing, reporting and writing for trade and consumer publications. She has written Radar on Specialty Pharmacy since she joined AIS Health in 2005 and has broad knowledge of the various issues at play within the space. She also has written for Spotlight on Market Access since its 2017 launch. Before joining AIS Health, she was managing editor at Employee Benefit News and Employee Benefit News Canada and managing editor at Hem Aware (a hemophilia publication), Lupus Living and Momentum (a multiple sclerosis publication). She has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in British literature from Arizona State University.

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