Biosimilars and Pharmacy - Drug Discovery Digest

Drug Channels News Roundup, July 2022: CVS vs. NACDS, ICER Impact, Biosimilar Boom, Deductible Doubts, and Alto Pharmacy (and me)

Drug Channels

JULY 20, 2022

In this issue: CVS disassociates itself from its chain pharmacy association Payers are paying attention to ICER Benefits of the biosimilar boom A fantastic takedown of health insurance deductibles Plus, I join the Advisory Board of Alto Pharmacy. P.S. Join my nearly 30,000 (!) LinkedIn followers for daily links to neat stuff.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Pharmacy Drugs Marketing

What’s Behind CVS Health’s Novel Vertical Integration Strategy for Humira Biosimilars (rerun)

Drug Channels

DECEMBER 11, 2023

One update: CVS Caremark's 2024 formulary for patient-administered autoimmune products prefers: Humira Hyrimoz (the high WAC Sandoz biosimilar) adalimumab-adaz (the unbranded, low WAC Sandoz biosimilar) Perhaps coincidentally, Sandoz products are marketed by Cordavis, the new business described in today's rerun.

The Big Three PBMs’ 2023 Formulary Exclusions: Observations on Insulin, Humira, and Biosimilars (rerun)

Drug Channels

MARCH 28, 2023

This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts while I prepare for this Friday’s live video webinar: Discount Cards, Cost-Plus Pharmacies, and PBMs: Trends, Controversies, and Outlook. Below, I highlight four takeaways from this year’s lists, including a look at biosimilar insulin and the forthcoming biosimilar competition for Humira.

Biosimilars

What’s Behind CVS Health’s Novel Vertical Integration Strategy for Humira Biosimilars

Drug Channels

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

CVS Health has finally revealed its strategy for biosimilars of AbbVie’s Humira. Rather than announce multiple biosimilars for its pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) formulary, the company will instead launch Cordavis, a new subsidiary that will market a private label, low-list-price version of Sandoz’ Hyrimoz.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Pharmacy Marketing Drugs

The Big Three PBMs’ 2023 Formulary Exclusions: Observations on Insulin, Humira, and Biosimilars

Drug Channels

JANUARY 10, 2023

For 2023, the three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Caremark (CVS Health), Express Scripts (Cigna), and OptumRx (United Health Group)—have again increased the number of drugs they exclude from their standard formularies. Each exclusion list now contains about 600 products.

Biosimilars

The Big Three PBMs’ 2024 Formulary Exclusions: Biosimilar Humira Battles, CVS Health’s Weird Strategy, and the Insulin Shakeup (rerun)

Drug Channels

APRIL 3, 2024

The 2024 formularies described below should boost biosimilar adoption. As a new Biosimilar Council report shows , Humira retained 99% of market share in late 2023, despite being more expensive than its biosimilars. This year, Humira and its 14 biosimilars will provide the most intriguing formulary drama.

Biosimilars

Drug Channels News Roundup, October 2023: CVS & Humira Biosimilars, GLP-1 G2N Bubble, 340B Abuses, Rite Aid's Endgame, Mark Cuban Update, and an Epic Meetup

Drug Channels

OCTOBER 31, 2023

CVS Health frightens all but one Humira biosimilar maker away from its formulary. Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company conjures a partnership with Alto Pharmacy. The gross-to-net bubble for anti-obesity GLP-1 drugs walks among us. Penn Medicine gorges on the 340B program.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Pharmacy Drugs

Available for Preorder: The 2022 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Drug Channels

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers is a definitive, nonpartisan resource that includes the most current information about pharmacy dispensing channels, third-party payers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), patients’ financial contributions, government regulations, and much more.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Specialty Pharmacies Biosimilars Licensing

Drug Channels News Roundup, April 2024: CVS’s Humira Strategy, White Bagging “Savings,” IRA vs. Part D Plans, Walgreens Specialty Update, Pharmacies vs. GoodRx, and Oncology Fun

Drug Channels

APRIL 29, 2024

April is over, so it's time to hop into this month’s selection of noteworthy news: CVS Health’s formulary boosts a Humira biosimilar An insurer ditches buy-and-bill to save money for plans—but maybe not for patients?

NOW AVAILABLE: The 2023 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Drug Channels

MARCH 14, 2023

Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers , available for purchase and immediate download. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers , our 14th edition, provides a comprehensive, fact-based, and non-partisan tool for understanding the entire U.S. I am pleased to announce our new 2023 Economic Report on U.S.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Drugs Marketing Biosimilars

Available for Preorder: The 2023 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Drug Channels

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers is a definitive, nonpartisan resource that includes the most current information about pharmacy dispensing channels, third-party payers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), patients’ financial contributions, government regulations, and much more.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Specialty Pharmacies Licensing Licensing

The Warped Incentives Behind Amgen’s Humira Biosimilar Pricing–And What We Can Learn from Semglee and Repatha (rerun)

Drug Channels

MARCH 30, 2023

This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts while I prepare for tomorrow’s live video webinar: Discount Cards, Cost-Plus Pharmacies, and PBMs: Trends, Controversies, and Outlook. So far, it appears that PBMs are neither preferring Amgen's Humira biosimilar nor embracing the low-list/low-rebate version.

Biosimilars

Drug Channels News Roundup, August 2021: OptumRx’s New GPO, Pharmacy DIR Fees, State Biosimilar Laws, UM Views, and a Newspaper Delivers

Drug Channels

AUGUST 25, 2021

Time to pack away the bathing suit and get serious again—with these curated curiosities combed from the now-barren Drug Channels beach: OptumRx joins the PBM GPO game Pharmacy DIR fees hit $11 billion A terrific resource on state biosimilar laws Patient views on utilization management Plus, my social media success…from a (print) newspaper ad!

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Pharmacy Drugs Research

Informa Connect's Hub and Specialty Pharmacy Models West

Drug Channels

JULY 11, 2022

Informa Connect's Hub and Specialty Pharmacy Models West. September 14-15, 2022 Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina | San Diego, CA www.informaconnect.com/hub-specialty-pharmacy-west. Delivered as a Hybrid Event. Drug Channels readers will save 10% off the current registration rate when they use code 22DC10 *.

Specialty Pharmacies Pharmacy Biosimilars Compliance

Drug Channels News Roundup, August 2022: Gov. Dean vs. Maximizers, Cancer vs. Copays, Specialty Drug Trends, Biosimilar Transitivity, and Dr. G. vs. PBMs

Drug Channels

AUGUST 23, 2022

on key specialty pharmacy trends Evidence for biosimilar-to-biosimilar switching Plus, Dr. Glaucomflecken takes on PBMs! P.S. Join my more than 31,000 LinkedIn followers for daily links to neat stuff. You can also find my daily posts at @DrugChannels on Twitter , where I have more than 15,000 followers.

Arkansas Law Prohibiting Manufacturer 340B Contract Pharmacy Restrictions Upheld by 8th Circuit

FDA Law Blog: Biosimilars

MARCH 24, 2024

By Faraz Siddiqui — As drug manufacturers battle the Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) in federal courts over the role of 340B contract pharmacies, an Eighth Circuit decision to uphold a 2021 Arkansas law may render those cases inconsequential in that state. Code Ann. § 23-92-604(c)(1), (2) (Act 1103). Decision at 8-9.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Regulations Compliance Government

FDA approves first interchangeable biosimilar insulin product for treatment of diabetes

The Pharma Data

JULY 29, 2021

Food and Drug Administration approved the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin product, indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn) is the first interchangeable biosimilar product approved in the U.S.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Production FDA Approval FDA

Drug Channels News Roundup, October 2021: PBMs’ Oncology Exclusions, Biosimilar Boom, BCBS vs. Hospitals, U.S. vs. the World, and CRISPR Comedy

Drug Channels

OCTOBER 27, 2021

It’s the biosimilar boom! Recent posts have covered: Walgreens’ new direction; controversary over independent pharmacy counting; insurer consolidation; retail pharmacy M&A; drug pricing policy; Prime Therapeutics; 340B contract pharmacy litigation; pharmaceutical antitrust; oncology care model; and Peter Bach’s nuptials.

Drug Channels News Roundup, March 2022: UM and Health Equity, Insurers ? White Bagging, Biosimilar Boom, A New Angle on Copay Support, and the Pharmacy Metaverse

Drug Channels

MARCH 31, 2022

Along with sunshine and fine weather, this vernal equinox has ushered in a crop of new and noteworthy stories: Health inequities in utilization management Insurers compute big white bagging savings The biosimilar boom accelerates The patient upside of manufacturers’ copay support Whoa. CVS Health takes the red pill.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Pharmacy Drugs

Drug Channel Implications of the Inflation Reduction Act (NEW Live Video Webinar)

Drug Channels

MARCH 5, 2024

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN In 2023, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) began to alter the Medicare Part D program and trigger changes in beneficiary out-of-pocket spending, drug prices, pharmacy economics, and market access strategies. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Biosimilars Drugs Marketing

Drug Channels News Roundup, June 2021: Amazon's Latest, Patients vs. Accumulators, Generics & Biosimilars, 340B Games, and a Hospital Road trip

Drug Channels

JUNE 27, 2021

As you declare your vaccinated independence, celebrate with these Drug Channels fireworks: Amazon’s teeny step toward pharmacy disruption How patients view copay accumulators My $0.02 on generic and biosimilar trends Some hospitals seem to be gaming their 340B eligibility Plus, tips on effective hospital marketing.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Hospitals Pharmacy Vaccine

Pharmacies Selling PSE: Remember to Train Employees and Self-Certify

FDA Law Blog: Biosimilars

AUGUST 21, 2023

Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas announced that People’s Rx, a local chain operating five retail pharmacies and a compounding laboratory in the Austin area, agreed to pay $200,000 to settle allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). 16, 2023 ( DOJ Press Release ). 2, 2020 ( DOJ Press Release ).

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Regulations Production Laboratories

Drug Channels News Roundup, May 2023: 340B Shame, OptumRx vs. Humira Biosimilars, ICER on White Bagging, Hospitals vs. Taxes, and Dr. G

Drug Channels

MAY 30, 2023

Summer unofficially began over the weekend.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Hospitals Pharmacy Drugs

Drug Channels News Roundup, April 2023: OptumRx’s Biosimilar Nonsense, Accumulator Inequity, Amazon Redux, AFPs, and My Meeting with Mark Cuban

Drug Channels

APRIL 25, 2023

While we wait for the Phillies turnaround, let’s oil up our gloves, lace up our cleats, and run the bases around this month's biggest hits: Foul ball : OptumRx prefers higher prices for the first Humira biosimilar Strikeout : Copay accumulators hurt health equity Bench warmer : Surprise?

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Drugs Pharmacy

Drug Channels News Roundup, May 2020: COVID-19 and Formularies, Retail-to-Mail Trends, ABC on Biosimilars, and Social Distancing the CVS Way

Drug Channels

MAY 27, 2020

Before you venture outside for your lockdown barbeque, check out these noteworthy items off the Drug Channels grill: Payers predict how COVID-19 will affect formularies Our analysis of the 2020 retail-to-mail shift AmerisourceBergen profiles biosimilars Plus, CVS pharmacy offers a clever way to measure appropriate social distancing.

The Evolution of Medical Benefit Contracting: How Pharma Can Prepare

Drug Channels

JANUARY 27, 2023

Saket discusses market access and contracting strategies for medical benefit products when pharmacy benefit biosimilar therapies launch. Today’s guest post comes from Saket Patel, Consultant, Advisory Services at MMIT. He then describes how to automate formulary and medical policies to protect manufacturers from overpayment.

Drug Channels News Roundup, November 2021: Specialty Pharmacy Checkup, Health Plan and Insulin, Gross-to-Net Bubble Update, and Amazon Redux

Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

In this issue: The State of Specialty Pharmacy 2021 How health plans profit—and patients lose—from insulin A fantastic new analysis of the gross-to-net bubble Reconsidering Amazon P.S. Please join the nearly 13,000 consumers of my daily commentary and links to neat stuff at @DrugChannels on Twitter. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Drug Channels News Roundup, November 2021: Specialty Pharmacy, Health Plans and Insulin, Gross-to-Net Bubble Update, CVS & 340B, and Amazon Redux

Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

In this issue: The State of Specialty Pharmacy 2021 How health plans profit—and patients lose—from insulin A fantastic new analysis of the gross-to-net bubble CVS acknowledges how its PBM profits from 340B Reconsidering Amazon P.S. You can also find my daily posts on LinkedIn , where I have more than 21,000 followers.

Drug Channels News Roundup, October 2022: Mark Cuban on PBMs, Walgreens & 340B, Biosimilar Boom Update, Physicians vs. UM, and Wellness at Walgreens

Drug Channels

OCTOBER 25, 2022

Sink your fangs into Amgen’s fantastic new report on the biosimilar boom Wicked! Mark Cuban tells ghost stories about PBMs. Walgreens terrifies Wall Street with its 340B losses. Physicians think payers cast evil utilization management spells. Plus, Walgreens launches a refreshing new wellness service.

Biosimilars

Biosimilars Drugs Pharmacy

Drug Channels News Roundup, November 2021: Specialty Pharmacy Checkup, Insulin Profits, Gross-to-Net Bubble Update, CVS & 340B, Amazon Redux, and the FDA Appraises Soup

Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

In this issue: The State of Specialty Pharmacy 2021 How health plans profit—and patients lose—from insulin A fantastic new analysis of the gross-to-net bubble CVS acknowledges how its PBM profits from 340B Reconsidering Amazon Plus, the FDA preps you for Thursday with a regulatory soup review. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Specialty Pharmacies Pharmacy FDA Biosimilars

Drug Channels Outlook 2024 (NEW Live Video Webinar)

Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Fein will share his latest thinking and projections on a wide range of topics, including: Commercial implications of the Inflation Reduction Act Vertical integration and consolidation trends Update on Humira biosimilars PBM strategies and the outlook for state and federal legislation What’s next for discount cards and cash-pay pharmacies Impact of (..)

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Biosimilars Drugs Marketing

Drug Channels News Roundup, November 2020: Rebate Rule Redux, MFN (maybe), Amazon’s Pharmacy Customers, Drug Spending, GPO M&A, and RxTrace

Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 24, 2020

In this issue: Rebate rule redux Most Favored Nation and healthcare benchmarking Amazon’s pharmacy customer opportunity Drug spending realities updated GPO consolidation Plus, I congratulate Dirk Rodgers of RxTrace on his retirement. Before you stretch your stomach, stretch your mind with this extra-stuffed helping of food for thought.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Specialty Pharmacies Biosimilars Doctors

Drug Channels News Roundup, June 2020: CVS’s New GPO, CMS on Copay Accumulators, GoodRx Fees, Supermarket Pharmacies, and Merck’s Ken Frazier

Drug Channels

JUNE 24, 2020

Before you declare your (socially-distanced) independence, get up close and personal with these Drug Channels fireworks: CVS launches a new GPO for its PBM CMS rethinks copay accumulators Here’s how GoodRx makes money Supermarkets face pharmacy challenges Plus, powerful and important comments from Ken Frazier, CEO of Merck.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Biosimilars Drugs Marketing

Five Takeaways from the Big Three PBMs’ 2022 Formulary Exclusions

Drug Channels

JANUARY 19, 2022

For 2022, the three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Caremark (CVS Health), Express Scripts (Cigna), and OptumRx (United Health Group)— increased the number of drugs they excluded from their standard formularies. Each exclusion list contains 400 to 500 products. Let me know what you think by commenting below or on social media.

Biosimilars

Five Takeaways from the Big Three PBMs’ 2022 Formulary Exclusions (rerun)

Drug Channels

APRIL 20, 2022

For 2022, the three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Caremark (CVS Health), Express Scripts (Cigna), and OptumRx (United Health Group)— increased the number of drugs they excluded from their standard formularies. Click here to see the original post and comments from January 2022.

Biosimilars

Drug Channels News Roundup, April 2021: Cigna’s $500 Gift, 340B & Specialty Pharmacy, GoodRx Deep Dive, and U.S. Drug Pricing Policy

Drug Channels

APRIL 27, 2021

While we all roll up our sleeves for a full reopening, let’s spring into this month’s selection of noteworthy news: Thoughts on Cigna’s payments to patients for non-medical switching 340B’s explosive specialty pharmacy growth An excellent analysis of GoodRx Plus, my $0.02 drug pricing policy. 3, and more.

Drug Channels Outlook 2023 (NEW Live Video Webinar)

Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 9, 2022

Fein will share his latest thinking on a wide range of topics, including: Retail and specialty pharmacy trends Vertical integration and consolidation The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 The Medicare Part D Redesign Biosimilars Discount cards and cash-pay pharmacies The growing impact of hospitals and health systems The 340B Drug Pricing Program Federal (..)