On the heels of a similar announcement from Optum Rx, pharmacy benefit management giant Express Scripts said Monday that it will add three biosimilars to its formulary to compete with Humira.
The PBM announced that it will include Boehringer Ingelheim's Cyltezo and two biosimilars produced by Novartis' Sandoz in its National Preferred Formulary. Humira, a drug for people with inflammatory conditions, is the top-selling pharmaceutical product in the world and has been viewed as a key target for savings thanks to biosimilar products.
Express Scripts said its trend data show that anti-inflammatory drugs accounted for nearly 25% of total drug spending for its commercial business last year. An analysis from its parent company, Evernorth, found that increased biosimilar competition could save $225 billion to $375 billion over the next decade.
Adam Kautzner, president of Express Scripts, said in the release that Express Scripts' efforts to embrace biosimilars echoes similar moves for generics 30 years ago, as these products "can drive greater affordability for individuals with chronic and complex conditions who need it most."
"In any industry, competition often leads to lower prices, and until recently, HUMIRA had little competition," Kautzner said. "Since it was introduced, its list price increased by 470%, and by adding multiple clinically-equivalent, cost-effective biosimilars to our formulary, we can now use the opportunity created by competition to drive greater savings for our clients and the nearly 100 million Americans we serve."
Cyltezo and Sandoz's offerings will join Amgen's biosimilar Amjevita on the national formulary as alternatives to Humira. Express Scripts said it has "long advocated" for greater biosimilar adoption as drug prices rise.
The PBM added that it will continue to conduct reviews of emerging products for potential formulary placement, and that the company supports a market shift to biosimilars while maintaining patient choice.
"Our formulary decision process is guided by clinical effectiveness first and foremost, while also considering the needs and continuity of care for patients, in addition to competitive cost savings to our clients," said Harold Carter, chief pharma trade relations officer, in the release. "We gladly welcome new biosimilar options and pricing strategies that enable us to effectively lower net costs and deliver long-term value, whether it's by lower list prices or deeper discounts for our clients and patients."