Evernorth now providing Humira biosimilar at no cost to patients

Evernorth Health Services, a subsidiary of Cigna, is set to offer a Humira biosimilar at $0 out-of-pocket for eligible patients through its specialty pharmacy Accredo starting in June. This move is expected to save individual patients an average of $3,500 per year, as the biosimilar will be priced about 85% lower than the list price for Humira.

Accredo currently supports over 100,000 patients using Humira or its biosimilars for inflammatory conditions, providing specialized care through its Therapeutic Resource Centers. Patients with conditions like Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis stand to benefit from this cost-saving initiative, as Accredo helps them navigate therapy, medication administration, copay assistance, and insurance coverage.

Express Scripts, another part of Cigna’s Evernorth subsidiary, added three Humira biosimilars to its National Preferred Formulary in 2023. The company’s analysis suggests that the introduction of biosimilars could lead to significant savings in total pharmacy spend in the U.S. over the next decade.

Dr. Adam Kautzner, president of Express Scripts, emphasized the importance of introducing biosimilars to drive greater savings for clients, especially in the face of rising drug prices. This initiative comes amidst legal challenges, with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost accusing pharmacy benefit managers like Express Scripts of manipulating drug prices to the detriment of patients.

Overall, the availability of a more affordable Humira biosimilar through Evernorth’s Accredo pharmacy represents a significant step towards improving access to essential medications for patients with inflammatory conditions.