Arthritis Patients - Cigna's Evernorth To Offer Humira Biosimilar At No Out-of-Pocket Cost

On Thursday, Evernorth Health Services said its Accredo arm will make a Humira biosimilar available to patients with no out-of-pocket costs. Evernorth is a subsidiary of The Cigna Group CI.

Beginning in June, the high- and low-concentration interchangeable biosimilar will be produced for Evernorth’s affiliate private-label pharmaceutical distributor, Quallent Pharmaceuticals, through agreements with multiple manufacturers.

Most patients will be able to secure the biosimilar products for $0 out-of-pocket through the copay assistance programs offered at Quallent beginning in June, Evernorth said.

This program is estimated to save individual patients around $3,500 on average per year.

According to the announcement, the biosimilar price is about 85% lower than that of branded Humira. More than 100,000 Accredo patients use either Humira or one of its biosimilars, the company said.

The specialty pharmacy provides patients with a Therapeutic Resource Center to connect to specialty-trained pharmacists and nurses who are available around the clock. Accredo’s centers cover 15 specific conditions.

Humira is AbbVie Inc’s ABBV blockbuster arthritis drug. In the most recent first-quarter earnings, Humira generated sales of $2.27 billion (down 35.9% Y/Y).

Reuters notes that AbbVie has held onto more than 98% of the Humira market despite nine biosimilars being launched in the U.S. last year. 

Citing IQVIA data, Reuters highlighted that privately-held German drugmaker Boehringer launched its version, Cyltezo, last July but has only sold a couple of thousand prescriptions since then.

Reuters report added that almost 3 million Humira prescriptions have been written during the same period, although tens of thousands of scripts have started to shift to biosimilar Hyrimoz each week since CVS Health’s Inc CVS pharmacy benefits unit took Humira off the list of drugs it recommends insurers reimburse. 

Price Action: CI shares are down 0.07% at $354.25 at the last check Friday.

Image: Phoenix Locklear from Pixabay