Formulary Watch |

FDA Approves Expanded Indication for Xarelto

Xarelto is now indicated to help reduce the risks of major cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease and major thrombotic vascular events.

Antiplatelet Drug Shows Potential as Heart Failure Therapy Treatment

FDA’s Full Approval of COVID-19 Vaccine Expected to Hike Vaccination Rates

BMS Seeks Approval of Orencia for Graft Versus Host Disease

The FDA has set a PDUFA date of December 23, 2021.

Drug Shortage Tracker for August 22, 2021

Recent Generic Approvals and Launches

Generics of Chantix, Durezol, Eliquis, and injection potassium/sodium are approved while generics of Tegretol and Levophed are launched.

Onco360 Chosen as Specialty Pharmacy for Welireg

The therapy is the first approved for patients with tumors associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

ICER Releases Draft Report on Mavacamten in Cardiomyopathy

Study: Libtayo is a Cost-effective Treatment in Advanced Skin Cancer vs. Keytruda

These results can be used to inform health care decisions, but investigators caution there hasn’t been head-to-head trials of the two therapies.

Study: Health Plans Don’t Seek Patient Input in Drug Coverage Decisions

Genentech Warns of Shortage of Actemra Due to Spike in COVID-19

Prime Therapeutics Removes Perforomist from Medicare Formulary

Pfizer Recalls More Lots of its Smoking Cessation Drug Chantix

A total of 16 lots have been recalled.

Merck’s Welireg Cleared for Rare Tumors

Blue Cross of Massachusetts to Change Pharmacy Providers

Effective January 2023, the organization will switch from Express Scripts to CVS Caremark.

FDA Approves Pfizer’s Ticovac

This vaccine protects against tick-borne encephalitis in people over the age of 1 year.

CMS Provides Billing Code for Pepaxto

The multiple myeloma therapy now has a permanent J code under Medicare Part B.

FDA Approves Lyumjev for Use with Insulin Pump

Trials result show that Lyumjev compares favorably to Humalog.

Study: Utilization Management Efforts Add Billions to Health Care Costs

Drug Shortages Update

FDA Approves Generic of Chantix, Pfizer's Smoking Cessation Drug

Study: Veltassa Lowers Overall Health Care Costs

Express Scripts Releases List of 2022 Formulary Exclusions

Veterans Administration Declines Coverage for Aduhelm

GoodRx, Boehringer Ingelheim Partner on Savings Program for Top Meds

FDA Issues CRL for FibroGen’s Roxadustat

The decision follows an advisory committee recommendation not to approve because of safety issues.

NSCLC Drug Trial Stopped Early After Strong Survival Results

FDA Accepts NDA for Dermavant’s Tapinarof

Second Specialty Pharmacy Chosen to Dispense Rezurock

The graft-versus-host disease therapy has also been added to NCCN Guidelines.

Psoriasis Drug Skyrizi is Now Available as a Single Injection

Previously patients administered as two, 75-mg shots. Now they can inject a single 150-mg dose.