Pharmaceutical benefit managers are often choosing higher-priced options as biosimilar competitors to Humira hit the market, Bloomberg reported April 26.
Humira, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions, can cost upward of $9,000 a month, according to GoodRx.
The drug's first biologic competitor, Amjevita, was introduced in 2023. According to Bloomberg, Amjevita is offered at two different prices: around $85,500 a year, about 5 percent less than Humira; and around $40,500 a year, about 55 percent of Humira's cost.
PBMs are mostly sticking with higher list prices, Bloomberg reported, with policies varying widely across insurers.
CVS Caremark favors Humira, while Express Scripts and OptumRx cover both versions.
At OptumRx, clients can choose between the higher or lower priced versions of Amjevita, trading higher rebates for lower list prices, Bloomberg reported.
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