PBM Makeover & Bristol Cash-Pay Plans: Strategies & Trends
- Pharmaceutical news is moving quickly today,with developments from both Eli Lilly and Bristol Myers Squibb.
- Eli Lilly halted a study of bimagrumab, an experimental drug designed to prevent muscle loss in obesity patients undergoing weight loss treatment, due to strategic business reasons, Reuters...
- The trial focused on monitoring fat versus muscle loss, a growing concern for patients using weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound.
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Lilly Halts Muscle-Preserving Obesity Drug Trial; BMS Offers Steep Discount on Psoriasis Drug
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Pharmaceutical news is moving quickly today,with developments from both Eli Lilly and Bristol Myers Squibb. Lilly has paused a mid-stage trial of an experimental drug aimed at preventing muscle loss in obesity patients,while BMS is offering a significant discount on its psoriasis treatment,Sotyktu,directly to cash-paying customers.
Eli Lilly Pauses Bimagrumab Trial
Eli Lilly halted a study of bimagrumab, an experimental drug designed to prevent muscle loss in obesity patients undergoing weight loss treatment, due to strategic business reasons, Reuters reports. The drug was being tested alone and in combination with tirzepatide (zepbound).
- Drug: Bimagrumab
- Company: Eli Lilly
- Purpose: Prevent muscle loss during weight loss
- Trial Stage: Mid-stage (Phase 2)
- Participants: 180 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes
- Trial End date: June 10, 2024 (less than a month after initiation)
The trial focused on monitoring fat versus muscle loss, a growing concern for patients using weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound. Preliminary data in late June suggested bimagrumab *did* help preserve muscle mass. A parallel study in obese patients *without* diabetes remains ongoing.
bristol Myers Squibb Offers Sotyktu Discount
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) will sell its psoriasis drug, Sotyktu, directly to cash-paying U.S. patients at a more than 80% discount to its list price,responding to pressure from the Trump administration. This move is linked to President Trump’s demand for drug price alignment with international standards.
- Drug: Sotyktu
- Company: Bristol Myers Squibb
- Condition Treated: Psoriasis
- Discount: >80%
- New Price: $950/month (vs.$6,828 list price)
- Launch of Direct-to-Patient platform: January 2025 (BMS Patient Connect)
The program, launching in January 2025 through the new BMS Patient Connect platform, bypasses traditional pharmacy benefit managers and insurers, targeting a smaller segment of patients.