When CVS Well being lastly revealed how it will present follow-on variations of the blockbuster immunology drug Humira, it selected a distinct path than its friends. Somewhat than deciding on a number of biosimilars so as to add to its listing of coated medicine as different pharmacy profit managers did, CVS solely introduced one, and that model of the drug would come by way of a brand new firm referred to as Cordavis.

CVS mentioned in its late August announcement that establishing a subsidiary to offer biosimilars will decrease the price of some of these medicine whereas making certain availability of the merchandise. However trade observers say there’s extra to the technique. This construction will make the corporate extra money, based on Nathan Ray, a companion at healthcare and life sciences consultancy West Monroe. CVS has seemingly run fashions evaluating what the corporate would make by providing a number of Humira biosimilars versus having a hand in an organization that commercializes it. Profitability is the one purpose for the corporate to arrange Cordavis to supply the drug, he mentioned.

Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS didn’t reply to a message looking for remark. In its announcement, the corporate mentioned Cordavis, a newly launched subsidiary, will work immediately with producers to commercialize or co-produce biosimilars. CVS added it intends to develop a portfolio of biosimilars, however the one one disclosed thus far is Hyrimoz, the Humira biosimilar from Sandoz.

CVS mentioned Cordavis has contracted with Sandoz to commercialize Hyrimoz beneath a Cordavis personal label. Cordavis expects a primary quarter 2024 launch of this biosimilar, which it mentioned could be priced greater than 80% decrease than branded Humira. Humira, made by AbbVie, prices $6,992 a month, based on the Drug Analysis Institute, a drug trade analysis group. Sandoz has priced Hyrimoz at $6,576, a 5% low cost to Humira.

Different PBMs are becoming a member of the biosimilar market in a extra conventional approach, providing follow-on variations to the AbbVie biologic drug alongside that branded product. Optum Rx’s Humira biosimilar choices embody Hyrimoz, the Boehringer Ingelheim product Cyltezo, and Amgen’s Amjevita. Specific Scripts is providing Cyltezo and two Sandoz merchandise: Hyrimoz and an unbranded model of that drug.

Cordavis is just not first new entity created by CVS to convey lower-priced variations of pharmaceuticals to the market. In 2013, the corporate introduced the formation of Purple Oak, a 50/50 three way partnership with Cardinal Well being. Purple Oak sources and negotiates drug provide contracts for each Cardinal Well being and CVS. Purple Oak solely handles generic medicine, sometimes tablets. Now Cordavis will play the same function for CVS in biosimilars.

In line with Drug Channels Institute CEO Adam Fein, Cordavis will allow CVS to enhance its profitability in a number of methods. For instance, CVS may take in a portion of a biosimilar producer’s revenue margin, Fein wrote in an article posted on the Drug Channels web site. Different examples embody establishing proprietary acquisition price benchmarks that allow it to achieve larger reimbursement from plan sponsors. Cordavis additionally locks in for CVS a most well-liked provide supply for its Humira biosimilar.

Whereas CVS mentioned Hyrimoz is the primary of a number of biosimilar merchandise that Cordavis will provide, it didn’t say whether or not the brand new entity will provide different Humira biosimilars. Ray mentioned that whereas there could also be an incentive for folks to take Hyrimoz versus one other product, it’s unclear how CVS or Cordavis will assist sufferers decide what’s proper for them. He added that solely sure medicine could also be worthwhile sufficient to pursue beneath the Cordavis mannequin. But when this mannequin proves to be extra worthwhile for CVS, he expects different PBMs may comply with.

“I’m imagining that as it’s, this shall be a take a look at mattress,” Ray mentioned. “We’ll see the way it works out. Simply asserting they’re going to do one thing and truly doing it may be far aside in timeline and never all the time work out as anticipated.”

Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Pictures