Optum Rx is moving into the biosimilar business with a company it’s calling Nuvaila, and it’s starting out with biosimilars to AbbVie’s blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira and J&J’s psoriatic arthritis drug Stelara, according to a formulary update.
UnitedHealth Group, which owns Optum Rx, declined to confirm to Endpoints News in June whether the PBM would move into the biosimilar business. Optum Health Solutions, an Optum Rx subsidiary, submitted an application to the US Patent and Trademark Office on June 4 for Nuvaila, which it said is for “procuring biosimilar pharmaceuticals and selling pharmaceuticals to wholesale pharmaceutical distributors.”
For Humira, Optum Rx wrote in its update that it will exclude Humira (adalimumab) and prefer FDA-approved biosimilars starting on Jan. 1, 2025 for patients who are new to the therapy. Patients who are currently on Humira, which is also approved for Crohn’s disease and other conditions, will be able to continue on the drug without switching to a biosimilar, but “with improved Humira pricing.”
Optum Rx added that the company has decided to wait on preferring only biosimilars until “all drug strengths are interchangeable at the pharmacy without a new prescription, which is expected later in 2025.”
For Stelara, Nuvaila will launch the biosimilar under its own private label, marketing it as Wezlana, also on Jan. 1, 2025.
Optum touted the benefits of its copycat, including that it’s the first to market, comes with $0 copay support, is latex-free and patients could see plan sponsor savings of up to almost 50% compared to the drug’s list price.
Optum is behind its two other biggest PBM competitors, which have already entered the biosimilar market. CVS created a subsidiary to partner with the generics giant Sandoz to sell the Humira biosimilar Hyrimoz, and Cigna’s health services arm Evernorth also plans to offer a cheaper biosimilar of Humira for free.