AbbVie, Gilead, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Inc., Humana, Prime Therapeutics LLC sales and marketing update

Humana and Harvard Pilgrim have selected Harvoni ledipasvir/sofosbuvir from Gilead as the exclusive option for HCV genotype 1 patients and thus will exclude AbbVie’s Viekira Pak, while Prime agreed to put Harvoni and Viekira Pak on its preferred drug list. Both Harvoni and Viekira were approved by the FDA late last year. Harvard Pilgrim, a regional payer that covers 1.2 million lives in the commercial market, said the Harvoni decision will apply to patients with liver fibrosis scores of F2-F4, or about 58% of the HCV population. The payer had the same restrictions on HCV drugs prior to the decision to select Harvoni. Humana said it will give Harvoni exclusive status on its formulary for commercial, Medicare and Medicaid plans. Prime is owned by 13 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans and manages the pharmacy benefits for more than 25 million lives across 23 Blue Cross plans. ...