CVS Joins Express Scripts in Targeting New Cholesterol Drugs
Express Scripts has about 30 percent of the U.S. pharmacy benefits management market, and CVS about 27 percent, according to Robyn Karnauskas, an analyst with Deutsche Bank.
(Bloomberg) — CVS Health Corp., the second-biggest manager of prescription drug benefits in the U.S., will make a new class of injectable cholesterol treatments its next major target to push back against high drug costs.
The drugs, called PCSK9 inhibitors, belong to an experimental class of medicines under development by Amgen Inc., Pfizer Inc., and Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. They can cut levels of LDL, or bad, cholesterol dramatically, benefiting people who can’t take other cholesterol medicines or who can’t get their levels low enough.
They may also cost $7,000 to $12,000 a year and patients could be on them for life, adding significant expense to the medical system, CVS executives warned.
When two players that control > 50% of a market.. agree on how things are going to be done.. isn’t that SORT OF a COLLUSION ?
Filed under: General Problems
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