Pfizer offers a patient-friendly explanation of biosimilars – what they are, how they differ from generics, and how they are developed and approved, among other topics on the company’s biosimilars website. Read more.

By 2020, the global biosimilars market is expected to top $390 billion and account for up to 28 percent of the global market for pharmaceuticals, due in large part to the loss of patent protection for commercially successful drugs. Read more.

In an analysis of step therapy regulations, GHLF looked at every state bill currently related to step therapy and scored them on how strongly they protected patients on a scale from one to 10. You can also see whether your state has passed or has pending legislation relating to step therapy protocols. Read more.

Stat News explores how insurance companies are becoming more aggressive in their reliance on step therapy, forcing patients to try cheaper treatments before they graduate to more expensive ones, even when providers say the inexpensive drugs will be ineffective. Read more.

In a Drug Channels guest post, Scott Pribyl, CEO of SamplifyRx discusses a new scoring system called RapidPA Score™ for specialty drug prior authorizations, and examines the potential benefits of a cloud-based tool that allows for near real-time prior authorization approvals. Read more.

According to one analysis, approximately 70 percent of patients encountering a prior authorization do not receive the originally prescribed medication. Frost and Sullivan have produced a white paper that offers solutions for physicians, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists to minimize delays and inefficiencies associated with the prior authorization process. Read more.

Medical Economics explores how primary care practices can minimize the time and financial burdens associated with payers’ prior authorization requirements, from minimizing expensive imaging tests to using electronic health records. Read more.

A study found that Repatha® (evolocumab) significantly reduced LDL cholesterol in patients with and without elevated triglycerides compared to placebo and Zetia® (ezetimibe). Learn more about the differences among LDL, HDL and triglycerides from the American Heart Association. Read more.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Repatha® (evolocumab) reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 61 percent from pretreatment levels, and this reduction was sustained through 48 weeks. Patients taking evolocumab also showed a reduction in the rate of cardiovascular events. Learn more about the differences among LDL, HDL and triglycerides […]

A study published in BMC Medicine found that the anti-PCSK9 antibodies Repatha® (evolocumab) and Praluent® (alirocumab) reduced the LDL (bad) cholesterol level by over 50 percent, increased the HDL (good) cholesterol level, and resulted in favorable changes in other lipids. As some patients cannot tolerate statins, there is a need for alternative treatments that lower […]