Cyltezo Added to Express Scripts' National Preferred Formulary

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Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that its adalimumab (Humira; AbbVie) biosimilar injection, Cyltezo, has been added to Express Scripts’ National Preferred Formulary. Express Scripts is the pharmacy benefits management business of The Cigna Group’s Evernorth. Coverage for eligible patients went into effect July 12, 2023.¹

The news of Express Scripts’ addition of Cyltezo to its National Preferred Formulary comes almost 2 weeks after Cyltezo’s entrance into the US biosimilars market as the first commercially available and FDA-approved interchangeable adalimumab biosimilar.²

Dermatology Times® spoke with Dorothy McCabe, PhD, FCP, the executive director of biosimilars at Boehringer Ingelheim, when Cyltezo first became available in the US to discuss its significance.

“Biosimilars were established to provide more treatment options, increase patient access, and lower health care costs. We’re confident in the value that Cyltezo brings to the health care and patient communities, backed by a strong efficacy-safety profile established in clinical trials. By nature of being the first and only FDA-approved interchangeable adalimumab biosimilar, patients can expect the same therapeutic effect from Cyltezo as they can from its reference product, Humira,” said McCabe.

Additionally, in June 2023, Optum Rx, a pharmacy benefit manager and subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, announced that it would add Cyltezo to its commercial formulary as a preferred brand, which covers more than 66 million members.³

Improving patient access to an interchangeable adalimumab biosimilar has been the goal of Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to producing Cyltezo. From its most recent announcement of Express Scripts, Stephen Pagnotta, the executive director and biosimilar commercial lead at Boehringer Ingelheim, noted, “This additional formulary coverage is an important step in our efforts to ensure access to Cyltezo – the only FDA-approved Interchangeable adalimumab biosimilar – for as many people who need it as possible.”

“Biologics have transformed the treatment of many life-limiting diseases, but with the significant burden of disease, health care systems are continuing to face a financial challenge to meet the needs of patients. As one of the largest producers of biologic medicines in the world, Boehringer Ingelheim hopes to increase the availability of safe, effective, and high-quality therapeutic options to patients worldwide,” McCabe told Dermatology Times.

References

1. Cyltezo, interchangeable biosimilar to Humira, now included on Express Scripts’ National Preferred Formulary. Boehringer Ingelheim. July 13, 2023. Accessed July 13, 2023. https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/press-releases/interchangeable-biosimilar-now-express
2. Cyltezo, first and only FDA-approved interchangeable biosimilar to Humira, now commercially available in the US. Boehringer Ingelheim. July 1, 2023. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/press-releases/interchangeable-biosimilar-now-available-us
3. Cyltezo, first interchangeable biosimilar to Humira, receives preferred formulary status with Optum Rx for commercially insured patients. Boehringer Ingelheim. June 23, 2023. Accessed July 13, 2023.https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/us/press-releases/optum-rx-places-interchangeable-biosimilar