Physician Efforts to Reverse Opioid Epidemic Quantified

When patients present with issues, physicians look to the most effective tools for treatment. The same is true in addressing an epidemic. While much more work remains to reverse the nation’s opioid epidemic, using tools such as prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP), medication-assisted treatment and naloxone, physicians are making progress. A new fact sheet courtesy of the American Medical Association provides some evidence of that progress on a number of fronts.

Combining focused prescribing practices, education and medicated assisted treatment increases, and the use of Naloxone to reduce overdoses, there seems to be optimism in combating this epidemic. Be sure to read the AMA published article HERE to learn more!  

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

HORIZON Health Ventures Featured Product: Performance Pharmacy Solutions

Instead of bringing you a healthcare headline, today we wanted to feature one of our most products at HORIZON Health Ventures, Performance Pharmacy Solutions. Performance Pharmacy Solutions℠ (PPS) is HORIZON Health Ventures, LLC pharmacy benefit management service. Delivered exclusively through some of the nation's largest and most respected pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), our partners provide pharmacy services to more than 70% of all Americans, delivering access to retail, home delivery and Specialty pharmacy distribution. With guidance and ongoing oversight from HORIZON, our service providers develop and flawlessly implement proven solutions to address today's pharmacy challenges.

To find out how PPS can help your business SAVE valuable money on your employees healthcare costs, please visit: http://horizonhealthventures.com/performance-pharmacy-solutions

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

Allergan CEO Lays Out Plan to Buck Trend of Rising Drug Prices

The American Pharmacists Association recently published the Bloomburg article, "Allergan CEO Lays Out Plan to Buck Trend of Rising Drug Prices" in their most recent newsletter. CEO Brent Saunders explains that Allergan will raise prices on its products only once a year, and increases will be limited to the single-digit percentage range.

Allergan will raise prices on its products only once a year, and increases will be limited to the single-digit percentage range, says CEO Brent Saunders. Saunders also remarked that the pharmaceutical industry has a "social contract" with patients, including an understanding that drugs should be priced to be accessible while providing profits to fuel research and development. The company will not raise prices dramatically on drugs that are about to lose patent protection and face generic competition, unless it has made investments that would justify such an increase. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

Health Insurers Enter EpiPen Battle With Infographic

America's Health Insurance Plans has been working for years to tell health policymakers, and voters, that drug companies have been contributing more than other players to high health care prices.

Now, the Washington, D.C.-based insurer trade group is pegging a new campaign to the controversy over the dramatic increase in the cost of EpiPen devices.

 

AHIP is encouraging news organizations to post and link to an infographic it prepared that shows how prices for seven important drugs changed between 2007 and 2014. LifeHealthPro has the full article, so be sure to check it out here. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

FDA Approves Third Biosimilar

All information courtesy of Magellan, Rx 

ErelziTM, a biosimilar to Enbrel®, FDA approved
News Alert:

• On August 30, 2016, Sandoz (a Novartis division) received FDA approval for etanercept-szzs (Erelzi).
  
• This communication is preliminary based on information available at this time.
  Highlights:
  
  • Erelzi is biosimilar to Amgen’s reference product etanercept (Enbrel).
    
  • Erelzi is not interchangeable with Enbrel.
    
  • Erelzi – Third biosimilar approved in the U.S.
    
    • –  Sandoz’s filgrastim-sndz (Zarxio®) was the first (approved in March 2015).
      
    • –  Pfizer’s infliximab-dyyb (InflectraTM) was the second (approved in April 2016).
      
  • On July 13, 2016, the FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee panel voted 20 to 0, in favor of the FDA
    approving Erelzi across all indications of the reference product.
    
  • Per the FDA’s definition of a biosimilar, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitor Erelzi has demonstrated no clinically meaningful differences to Enbrel in terms of the safety, purity, and potency.
    
  • The FDA’s approval was based on reviews of evidence ranging from analytical, nonclinical, and clinical data, to human pharmacokinetic data and other clinical safety and effectiveness data, which demonstrates Erelzi is biosimilar to Enbrel.
    
  • Erelzi indications:
    
    • –  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      
    • –  Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in ages ≥ 2 years
      
    • –  Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
      
    • –  Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
      
    • –  Plaque psoriasis (PsO)
      
  • Erelzi was granted all of Enbrel’s indications.
    
  • Erelzi solution was approved as 25 mg/0.5 mL and 50 mg/mL single-dose (SD) prefilled (PF) syringes
    and as a 50 mg/mL SD PF pen.
    
  • Self-administered by subcutaneous injection.
    

Market Dynamics:

• Launch: To be determined, but not expected in the near future.
  
  • –  Under an August 11, 2016 court order, the manufacturers agreed to a preliminary injunction
    blocking the launch of Erelzi.
    
  • –  Depending on court rulings/patent appeals, there is a possibility of launch in 4Q2018 or April 2029.
    
• Price: To be determined. Market Impact:
  Erelzi marks the third biosimilar approved in the U.S. following Zarxio, also from Sandoz, and Pfizer’s Inflectra. However, the only biosimilar currently available on the U.S. market is Zarxio. The launch of Inflectra is pending. Erelzi is not interchangeable to Enbrel, since the FDA is still reviewing its guidance on interchangeability. The agency has also recently issued draft guidance for both nonproprietary naming and biosimilar labels. As the regulatory component evolves, there will be further clarity with biosimilar development and market adoption. Though approved, at the earliest, the market launch of Erelzi is not expected until 4Q2018. Court rulings and intellectual property considerations will ultimately impact Erelzi’s launch. Erelzi offers an alternative, potentially more affordable, treatment option to Enbrel for patients with select chronic autoimmune diseases. The pipeline of biosimilars is expected to grow. This competition will offer cost savings and an opportunity to improve patient access to critical medications.
  Magellan Rx Management Action:
  Magellan Rx Management is evaluating this new product and will follow up with clinical updates, management strategies, and financial guidance. Magellan Rx Management will also continue to closely monitor the biosimilar landscape and provide updates as appropriate.
  Links:
  

• FDA News Release: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm518639.htm.
  
• Novartis Press Release: https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/fda-approves-sandoz- erelzitm-treat-multiple-inflammatory-diseases.
  
• Erelzi Label: http://www.us.sandoz.com/cs/www.us.sandoz.com.wls10/assets/media/shared/documents/Erelzi_PI_ MG_IFU.pdf.
  

Express Scripts Promises Clients Caps On Diabetes Spending

Express Scripts Holding Co. is rolling out a new program with the goal of lowering the cost of diabetes care for its clients by implementing spending caps.

The program, which launches March 1, introduces a multifaceted approach to cut spending — and makes bold promises to the company’s clients, including employers, insurance carriers and government agencies. 

There is much, much more on this topic so to read more please click here! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

5 Reasons Prescription Drug Prices Are So High in the U.S.

The “most important factor” that drives prescription drug prices higher in the United States than anywhere else in the world is the existence of government-protected “monopoly” rights for drug manufacturers, researchers at Harvard Medical School report today.

The researchers reviewed thousands of studies published from January 2005 through July 2016 in an attempt to simplify and explain what has caused America’s drug price crisis and how to solve it. They found that the problem has deep and complicated roots and published their findings in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association. The study was funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation with additional support provided by the Engelberg Foundation.

 

To learn more on this headline, please read the Yahoo Finance published article, "5 Reasons Prescription Drug Prices Are So High In The U.S.".

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/