Express Scripts other news
Pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts released a list of 66 therapies it will not cover starting Jan.1, 2015. The list includes 25 drugs it previously covered, including anemia drug Epogen epoetin alfa from Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN, Thousand Oaks, Calif.). In lieu of Epogen, the PBM suggests Procrit epoetin alfa from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ, New Brunswick, N.J.).The formulary also newly excludes HCV drug Incivek telaprevir, an HCV NS3/4A protease complex inhibitor from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDQ:VRTX, Boston, Mass.). The formulary instead recommends protease inhibitors Olysio simeprevir from J&J and Medivir AB (SSE:MVIR B, Huddinge, Sweden) or Victrelis boceprevir from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK, Whitehouse Station, N.J.).
The PBM estimated that less than 0.2% of the 25 million members will be affected by the exclusions. The PBM also noted that physicians can pursue an off-formulary drug for patients with a “unique clinical need.” ...