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Cigna Signs Agreement with Gilead to Improve Affordability of Hepatitis C Treatment for Customers and Clients
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Feb 4 2015 04:03 PM Eastern Standard Time
· Improving customers' health at the most competitive pricing benefits all stakeholders
· Harvoni is the only Cigna preferred hepatitis C drug treatment for genotype 1
BLOOMFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cigna (NYSE: CI) has reached an agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) to include Harvoni as the only preferred brand prescription drug treatment for customers with hepatitis C genotype 1, the most common form of the disease in the United States. Cigna clients and customers benefit from obtaining breakthrough clinical cure rates for hepatitis C while significantly lowering the cost of drug treatment.
"Cigna is committed to offering customers and clients the most affordable solutions that deliver improved health while containing both drug and total medical costs. We have selected Gilead's Harvoni as the preferred drug treatment for hepatitis C genotype 1. Harvoni's clinical effectiveness, safety and convenience, coupled with our innovative customer counseling, will deliver material health and financial outcomes for our customers and clients," said Jon Maesner, chief pharmacy officer for Cigna Pharmacy Management.
Clinical studies have shown that 94% to 99% of individuals with genotype 1 hepatitis C treated with Harvoni achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR). Customers who have an SVR when tested 12 weeks after the completion of treatment are considered cured.
"Cigna continues to invest in analyzing real-world SVR outcomes with the leading hepatitis C treatments across the genotypes as we believe creating alignment around clinical and financial outcomes drives more affordable access to essential medications," added Maesner. The agreement includes development of an innovative outcomes incentive alignment based on actual SVR results across Cigna's customer population.
Cigna is continuing to:
· Offer therapy support management through Cigna Specialty Pharmacy Services to every customer undergoing hepatitis C treatment.
· Conduct real-world outcomes assessments on existing and new hepatitis C drug treatments, including Harvoni, to further develop outcome-based strategies.
Cigna Medicare customers will also now have Harvoni as an additional formulary choice for treatment.
Terms of the agreement are not disclosed.
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