News Briefs: Optum to Include Humira Biosimilars in Formulary

UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx PBM said that it will incorporate as many as three new biosimilars in its formulary to compete with AbbVie Inc.’s Humira, the immunosuppressant biologic that consistently is the most costly drug to the U.S. health care system. However, Optum will still cover Humira: it will be placed on the same tier as the new biosimilars. According to Optum, the company spends at least $20 billion on Humira every year, according to Bloomberg.

Merck & Co. Inc. will acquire Imago BioSciences Inc. for $1.35 billion, the companies said on Monday. Imago’s lead product is “bomedemstat (IMG-7289), an investigational orally available lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibitor, is currently being evaluated in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of essential thrombocythemia (ET), myelofibrosis (MF), and polycythemia vera (PV), in addition to other indications,” according to a Merck press release. The purchase could shore up Merck’s portfolio of treatments for blood and bone marrow cancers. At present, Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co. and a joint venture of Incyte Corp. and Novartis AG lead the market in those categories.

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