Denise Myshko

The CEOs of CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group praised pharmacy benefit managers and promised transparency during investor calls. A critic of the “big 3” dismissed the statements as posturing.

Jobevne is the fifth Avastin biosimilar, which are recombinant humanized monoclonal antibodies used to treat several different types of cancer.

A new paper by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) looks at the cost-effectiveness versus affordability issue of obesity medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound.

The FDA has set a goal date of Aug. 27, 2025. If approved, the therapy would be branded as Lytenava and be the first ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab.

Bkemv is being offered at 10% off Soliris, and Epysqli is offered at 30% below Soliris. Both biosimilars treat several of the same rare immune diseases as Soliris.

Uplizna is the first approved treatment for immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD), a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect multiple organs. It has a price of $140,248.50 per dose.

The study explores whether Prolia/Xgeva (denosumab), a widely used therapy for osteoporosis and bone tumors, can regenerate beta cells in patients with early type 1 diabetes.

Maria Lowe, Ph.D., associate vice president of Pharmaceutical Intelligence at Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) addresses the possible gene therapies that we could see reach the market this year.

Vanrafia reduces proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). It has a wholesale acquisition cost of $162,500 annually.

Maria Lowe, Pharm.D., BCPS, associate vice president of pharmaceutical intelligence at the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, described specialty drugs as high-cost treatments requiring complex handling or disease management and highlighted key upcoming approvals, including a new PCSK9 inhibitor for lipid lowering and tolebrutinib, a Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, which could become the first in its class approved for multiple sclerosis.

A small, multi-country analysis of women of child-rearing age has found that these patients experience limits on activities of daily living, challenges with the healthcare system and a high overall financial burden.

A Prime Therapeutics analysis of real-world data has found that medical costs for patients taking GLP-1 drugs for obesity had increased by about $1,338 per member, compared with a matched control group.

The results of a new study in mice show that early exposure to certain bacteria and fungus can give the immune system a boost and reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes.

In the ZENITH trial, Winrevair was evaluated based on a composite endpoint of all-cause death, lung transplantation or disease-related hospitalization for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Clopidogrel monotherapy may be an alternative to aspirin for prevention of cardiac events in high-risk patients after percutaneous coronary intervention, according to a new study presented at ACC 2025.

The rate of cardiovascular death, nonfatal heart attack, or nonfatal stroke was 30% lower among patients receiving nurse-led follow-up care after acute coronary syndrome.

Wegovy was also associated with a lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure, cardiovascular-related death, and all-cause death.

Novo Nordisk has submitted a supplemental application to the FDA for Rybelsus 14 mg to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes. A regulatory decision is anticipated in 2025.

A new analysis presented at the ACC 2025 meeting also finds that the new prices for heart failure drugs negotiated through Medicare will reduce hospitalizations.

Vykat XR will be available in April to treat the intense hunger that is a hallmark of the rare genetic disease Prader-Willi syndrome. The price is based on a patient’s weight, and the average patient in the clinical trials would have had an average annual cost of $466,200 for the first year.

Neuroendocrine tumors that start in the pancreas tend to be more aggressive and have a poor prognosis.

A new drug application for povorcitinib is expected to be filed in late 2025 to early 2026 to treat adult patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic and painful inflammatory skin condition.

Wegovy is also available through NovoCare Pharmacy, which directly ship all dose strengths at a cost of $499 per month for cash-paying patients.

Tremfya is also approved to treat patients with plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis and is available as both a subcutaneous and intravenous induction option.

Optum Rx's new cost-based program uses an internal algorithm that leverages multiple available industry data sources, such as NADAC and PAC, to inform reimbursement.

Optum Rx has eliminated reauthorization for almost 70 drugs for chronic diseases, about 10% of its overall pharmacy prior authorizations.

Regulators are expected to make a decision in the third quarter of 2025 on Kerendia to treat patients with heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥40%.

At a Senate confirmation hearing for CMS administrator, Mehmet Oz, M.D., would not answer directly whether he would support budget cuts to the Medicaid program.

Lumicera Health Services, Navitus’ specialty pharmacy, has made a deal with Teva to offer an unbranded biosimilar that they estimate will save $112,000 and $336,000 per patient per year. Navitus will remove Stelara from formulary on July 1, 2025.

The new bill would also require state Medicaid programs to report National Average Drug Acquisition Costs (NADAC) as a way to increase transparency in drug pricing.