Express Scripts adds Harvoni, expands indication-based pricing

Among a handful of changes revealed Monday, Express Scripts Holding Co. (NASDAQ:ESRX) said it will expand the formulary of its Hepatitis Cure Value Program to include Harvoni ledipasvir/sofosbuvir from Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD). As part of an HCV pricing war, Harvoni had been kept out in favor of exclusive access for Viekira Pak ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir from AbbVie Inc. (NASDAQ:ABBV) (see BioCentury, Jan. 19, 2015).

Express Scripts will offer both Harvoni and Viekira Pak on its National Preferred Formulary as well. It said its price negotiations for the drugs have lowered HCV treatments' costs by "nearly 50%" since the value program's launch. The company declined to disclose the size of the discounts...