Express Scripts releases 2018 formulary exclusions

Express Scripts Holding Co. (NASDAQ:ESRX) posted a list of drugs it will not cover in its 2018 National Preferred Formulary, along with preferred alternatives in each drug category. The new formulary excluded 64 additional drugs over 2017, bringing the total exclusions to 159.

Express Scripts included osteoporosis drug Tymlos abaloparatide-SC from Radius Health Inc. (NASDAQ:RDUS) as a preferred alternative to Forteo teriparatide (Forsteo) from Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY). In April, FDA approved the subcutaneous peptide analog of PTH-related protein (PTHrP) to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture. Forteo is a human parathyroid hormone (PTH) fragment (see BioCentury, May 8)...