HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary to Release Report on Formulary Advantages in Type 2 Diabetes

Januvia, Byetta and Prandin Will Need to Overcome Reimbursement Hurdles to Achieve Preferred Reimbursement Status Among U.S. Health Plans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. and GLEN ROCK, N.J., Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary will release their latest report entitled Formulary Advantages in Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes: Crowding Among Anti-Diabetic Agents Necessitates Brand Differentiation: What Features Contribute to Preferred Reimbursement Status Among U.S. Health Plans? later this month. The report analyzes the reimbursement hurdles that brands such as Merck's Januvia, Eli Lilly/Amylin's Byetta and Novo Nordisk's Prandin will need to overcome in the face of Takeda's Actos (pioglitazone) patent expiry in 2012.

This Formulary Forum report is based on a survey of 50 pharmacy directors who control national, regional and state-level managed care organizations. Respondents were asked if their plans will require step therapy with pioglitazone prior to reimbursing branded therapies, along with attributes of branded therapies that will lead to formulary coverage on lower tiers. Answers are segmented by type of plan to illustrate variances in strategy by size of plan.

"Competition among brands is increasing as multiple second, third and fourth-to-market brands emerge for DPP-IV inhibitors, GLP-1 analogues and branded fixed-dose combination therapies," states Leigh Compton, M.D., Ph.D., author of the report. "As a result, current and emerging therapies will need to overcome significant reimbursement hurdles to achieve preferred status. This report shows how each brand is positioned in the payer space, giving pharma companies a critical advantage for their brand."

The report series combines historical formulary data from Fingertip Formulary, which maintains the highest quality and most comprehensive, integrated database of formulary information in the United States, with a robust survey of 50 managed care organization pharmacy directors. The proprietary database includes formulary data (tiering, restrictions and copays) from commercial health plans, Medicaid, Medicare Part D, as well as pharmacy benefit managers and others.

About Fingertip Formulary

Fingertip Formulary (www.FingertipFormulary.com), the leading provider of access to and insight into formulary data in the United States, offers comprehensive formulary data covering commercial, Medicaid, Medicare and PBM plans, among others. Fingertip Formulary is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

About HealthLeaders-InterStudy

HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a Decision Resources, Inc. company, is the authoritative source for managed care data, analysis and news. For more information, please visit www.HL-ISY.com.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Both HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary are Decision Resources, Inc. companies. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

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SOURCE HealthLeaders-InterStudy