Formulary Watch |

Lilly’s first-in-class medicine that activates both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, Mounjaro, is the latest to be included on the FDA’s drug shortages list because of high demand.

This is the fourth indication for Vraylar, a dopamine and serotonin partial agonist that can now be used as an adjunctive therapy in patients with major depressive disorder.

Smaller and midsize pharmacy benefit managers are taking on Optum Rx, CVS Caremark and Express Scripts. They say they have better technology and are more transparent about their pricing.

Prescryptive will offer a subscription-based program for employers that aims to provide a more predictable benefit for companies and their employees.

The Medicare Part D Senior Savings Model — a CMS effort to test $35 copays for insulin — led to lowered total costs for beneficiaries.

Moderna is developing an individualized cancer vaccine that uses mRNA technology to specifically target that person’s cancer.

Magellan Rx predicts oncology and high-cost rare disease treatments will continue to drive medical pharmacy spend in commercial, Medicaid and Medicare.

Building on the success of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccines, Pfizer and BioNTech have begun a phase 1 trial of a combined flu-COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDA issued an accelerated approval for Mirati’s Krazati for patients with KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. The agency also approved a companion diagnostic to identify eligible patients.

The acquisition provides Biocon Biologics with eight commercial biosimilars, and is part of Viatris’ efforts to pay down debt related to phase 1 research and the company’s acquisition of two ophthalmology businesses.

The bivalent vaccines add the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 to the original SARS-CoV-2 and a component of omicron lineage BA.1.

Oncopeptides disagrees with the FDA about Pepaxto and will make a decision about next steps by the end of the first quarter of 2023.

Independent pharmacies are no longer part of Tricare’s pharmacy network for uniformed service members and their families. The pharmacy groups say this will impact 400,000 beneficiaries.

Health insurance premiums, especially in the ACA Marketplace, could increase if the federal government ends purchasing of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

Magellan Rx's businesses includes a 1.7-million member PBM. The deal is struck amid a long-time trend toward consolidation in the pharmacy benefit management industry.