Acerus Grabs Additional Formulary Status for Testosterone Brand

Canadian company Acerus Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on men’s health, has announced that another leading pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) in the United States has made Natesto (testosterone nasal gel) a preferred brand on its formulary. Coverage now includes 85% of covered lives, according to a company statement.

Natesto is an androgen replacement therapy developed with a novel platform that allows for delivery by nasal spray. It was approved in the United States in 2014 to treat men with primary and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

A company spokesperson said the company isn't able to name this PBM, but last year Acerus signed with Express Scripts for Natesto to be on its formulary.

Acerus recently teamed up with Amneal Pharmaceuticals for U.S. promotion. Amneal will promote Natasto through its 50+ sales representatives beginning July 2021.

Low testosterone affects almost 40% of men aged 45 and older, according to the Cleveland Clinic. As a man ages, the amount of testosterone in his body gradually drops. This natural decline starts after age 30 and continues (about 1% per year) throughout his life.

"This new formulary placement is another key milestone in Acerus’ commercial efforts in the United States,” said Ed Gudaitis, president and chief executive officer of Acerus. “We anticipate this will lead to enhanced patient access and increased physician prescribing of Natesto for the more than 13 million U.S. men diagnosed with hypogonadism."