ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics (Prime) recently announced the removal of the prescription drug Avandia(R) from its national formulary. After careful examination of clinical literature regarding the safety and efficacy of Avandia, Prime's National Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee has made the decision to remove the drug from its formulary. Prime's P&T Committee is a panel of pharmacists and physicians that meets quarterly and reviews drugs for Prime's formulary.
In May 2007, a meta-analysis by Nissen, et al, suggested that Avandia significantly increased the risk of heart attack. The results of this meta-analysis were also duplicated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Avandia manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline. Consequently, in November 2007, the FDA announced that a black boxed warning for an increased risk for heart attacks in some patients would be added to Avandia's prescribing information.
Following the May publication of the Avandia meta-analysis, Prime's outcome clinicians began an in-depth analysis of Avandia utilization. An analysis of medical and pharmacy claims revealed that over 25 percent of patients on Avandia had a history of coronary artery disease or heart failure. The clinical evidence indicated that the use of Avandia in these patients may increase cardiovascular risk. Since the meta-analysis was released in May, Prime has seen a 58 percent decline in Avandia utilization.
"Prime has made this decision after a thorough analysis of the clinical literature examining the safety and efficacy of Avandia. Prime's National P&T Committee is committed to ensuring the safety and quality of Prime's formulary medications," stated Craig Mattson, Prime's Senior Director of Drug Technology Assessment and Formulary Development. "Prime takes drug safety warnings very seriously and our primary concern is the safety of our members."
Prime is committed to communicating to physicians the safety concerns surrounding Avandia and all other medications. Prime will continue to follow all market events surrounding drug safety and will make formulary changes when necessary.
Prime Therapeutics LLC is a pharmacy benefit management company dedicated to providing innovative, clinically based, cost-effective pharmacy solutions for clients and members. Providing pharmacy benefit services nationwide to approximately 12.5 million covered lives, its client base includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups, and third-party administrators. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Prime Therapeutics is collectively owned by 10 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those Plans. Learn more at http://www.primetherapeutics.com/.
Prime Therapeutics LLC
