Cigna’s pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts said it will remove Humira from its largest commercial drug formularies in 2025 to make way for its biosimilars.
The move will make Express Scripts the second major PBM to stop covering AbbVie’s blockbuster. In April, CVS Caremark removed the drug from its major national formularies and opened the door for biosimilars to snag a greater share of the Humira market for the first time.
Previously, Cigna chose to cover Humira and biosimilars at parity, though it has made some moves to boost biosimilar use, such as offering a Humira biosimilar to specialty pharmacy members for $0 out-of-pocket.
When Humira is removed from formularies next year, commercial members will have access to the biosimilars made by Cigna-owned private-label drug distributor Quallent; Cyltezo and its unbranded version from Boehringer Ingelheim; Simlandi from Teva; and adalimumab-adaz from Sandoz.
“With this latest update, we’re prepared to embrace the savings biosimilars offer and pave the way for access to the next wave of prescription drug blockbusters coming down the pike,” Adam Kautzner, president of Evernorth Care Management and Express Scripts, said in the announcement.