US health insurer Highmark Inc. has announced that it signed an outcomes-based contract with AstraZeneca for Symbicort that provides for a rebate from AstraZeneca if the inhaler does not reduce COPD or asthma symptoms in line with clinical trial results. Highmark’s evaluation of Symbicort performance will be based on “specific pharmacy and medical criteria.”
Highmark Director of Specialty Pharmacy Strategies Ryan Cox commented, “Highmark is committed to innovative contracting solutions that focus on clinical results and drive patients to products that will encourage better disease management. COPD continues to be one of the top spend therapeutic categories across our membership base. By entering into outcomes-based agreements with pharmaceutical companies, we are helping to ensure that our members have access to products that provide better patient outcomes.”
AstraZeneca US VP, Market Access, Rick R. Suarez said, “As a leader in innovative, value-based agreements, AstraZeneca recognizes the need to evolve towards a greater focus on value and shared accountability for patient outcomes. We have entered into value-based agreements across our therapeutic areas, and we are proud to stand behind the science of Symbicort in this agreement with Highmark. Our goal is to provide affordable access to AstraZeneca medicines for patients and this agreement honors our joint obligation to deliver better patient outcomes.”
The FDA approved AstraZeneca’s sNDA for Symbicort budesonide/formoterol fumarate MDI to extend the inhaler’s use to include the reduction of COPD exacerbations in September 2017 based on data from the RISE (Revealing the Impact of Symbicort in reducing Exacerbations in COPD) study.
Read the Highmark press release.
