AstraZeneca AZN today announced a new program with more than 26,000 national, regional and independent pharmacies to broaden stocking of BRILINTA® (ticagrelor) tablets, greatly enhancing its retail availability in the United States. This new pharmacy program is another investment by AstraZeneca to help patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and healthcare providers maintain continuity of care throughout the course of treatment. AstraZeneca is working with payers as well as pharmacies to assist patients in filling their prescriptions for BRILINTA in a timely manner once they leave the hospital.
Participating pharmacy chains in this unique program include Walmart, Rite Aid, Kmart, Sam’s Club, Publix, Kerr Drug, Wegmans, Giant Eagle, Tops Markets, Kinney Drug, Bartell Drug, Bi-Lo, and Winn-Dixie. These participating retail chains are not exclusive distributors and BRILINTA may be available at other retail pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies. For additional information, please call 1-888-512-7454 (1-888-51-BRILINTA).
“Our pharmacy program is one of many initiatives we have in place to help ensure that patients with ACS have widespread access to BRILINTA, an important medication indicated to reduce their risk for thrombotic cardiovascular events,” said James Ferguson, MD, Executive Director, Medical Affairs and Strategic Development, U.S., and Vice President for Global Medical Affairs at AstraZeneca. “When a treating physician prescribes BRILINTA, it is critical that their patients start and finish the entire course of treatment without unnecessary disruptions, particularly when transitioning from the hospital to home. We believe this program will truly help patients to get access to a medication that is now part of multiple guidelines' recommended treatment following an ACS event.”
“Our efforts to help improve continuity of care are important for patients prescribed BRILINTA and pharmacies are key partners for us,” said Suzanne Delaney, Executive Director, Commercial Brand Leader at AstraZeneca. “It’s gratifying for us to see such robust support from wholesalers, retailers and payers, indicating positive momentum in the market.”
BRILINTA is indicated to reduce the rate of thrombotic cardiovascular (CV 0.00%) events in patients with ACS (unstable angina [UA], non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI], or ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI]). In PLATO, BRILINTA has been shown to reduce the rate of a combined end point of CV death, myocardial infarction (MI 0.00%), or stroke compared to clopidogrel. In PLATO, the difference between treatments was driven by CV death and MI with no difference in stroke. In patients treated with an artery-opening procedure known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), BRILINTA reduces the rate of stent thrombosis.
BRILINTA has been studied in ACS in combination with aspirin. Maintenance doses of aspirin above 100 mg decreased the effectiveness of BRILINTA. Avoid maintenance doses of aspirin above 100 mg daily.
BRILINTA payer access continues to grow, with more than 100 leading U.S. payers providing “preferred” access to this medication. Overall, access is currently 82% of covered lives with 70% having unrestricted access. In addition, BRILINTA is now on formulary at 81% (324) of the top 400 hospitals throughout the United States as identified by AstraZeneca. A full list of available formularies that include BRILINTA can be found on Fingertip Formulary, a website that offers formulary drug status on the most commonly prescribed drugs across a comprehensive list of health plans.
Another important support resource now available is Access My BRILINTA, which provides time-saving prescription access and affordability information to patients and healthcare providers. Access My BRILINTA is available by calling 1-888-512-7454 (1-888-51-BRILINTA) or visiting BRILINTA.com.
For patients that require BRILINTA beyond their hospital stay, a savings card program is available based on eligibility. Commercially insured and cash-paying patients may be eligible for one free 30-day prescription and can save up to $825 per year on their next 11 refills. For each refill (a 30-day supply of up to 60 tablets), savings may apply after the first $18 spent by a patient, up to a $75 savings limit. Patients covered through Medicare, Medicaid or similar federal or state programs may be eligible for one month free prescription. Patients can find out more at www.BRILINTAtouchpoints.com or by calling 1-888-412-7454.
http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=BW&date=20121204&id=15862329
Participating pharmacy chains in this unique program include Walmart, Rite Aid, Kmart, Sam’s Club, Publix, Kerr Drug, Wegmans, Giant Eagle, Tops Markets, Kinney Drug, Bartell Drug, Bi-Lo, and Winn-Dixie. These participating retail chains are not exclusive distributors and BRILINTA may be available at other retail pharmacy chains and independent pharmacies. For additional information, please call 1-888-512-7454 (1-888-51-BRILINTA).
“Our pharmacy program is one of many initiatives we have in place to help ensure that patients with ACS have widespread access to BRILINTA, an important medication indicated to reduce their risk for thrombotic cardiovascular events,” said James Ferguson, MD, Executive Director, Medical Affairs and Strategic Development, U.S., and Vice President for Global Medical Affairs at AstraZeneca. “When a treating physician prescribes BRILINTA, it is critical that their patients start and finish the entire course of treatment without unnecessary disruptions, particularly when transitioning from the hospital to home. We believe this program will truly help patients to get access to a medication that is now part of multiple guidelines' recommended treatment following an ACS event.”
“Our efforts to help improve continuity of care are important for patients prescribed BRILINTA and pharmacies are key partners for us,” said Suzanne Delaney, Executive Director, Commercial Brand Leader at AstraZeneca. “It’s gratifying for us to see such robust support from wholesalers, retailers and payers, indicating positive momentum in the market.”
BRILINTA is indicated to reduce the rate of thrombotic cardiovascular (CV 0.00%) events in patients with ACS (unstable angina [UA], non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI], or ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI]). In PLATO, BRILINTA has been shown to reduce the rate of a combined end point of CV death, myocardial infarction (MI 0.00%), or stroke compared to clopidogrel. In PLATO, the difference between treatments was driven by CV death and MI with no difference in stroke. In patients treated with an artery-opening procedure known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), BRILINTA reduces the rate of stent thrombosis.
BRILINTA has been studied in ACS in combination with aspirin. Maintenance doses of aspirin above 100 mg decreased the effectiveness of BRILINTA. Avoid maintenance doses of aspirin above 100 mg daily.
BRILINTA payer access continues to grow, with more than 100 leading U.S. payers providing “preferred” access to this medication. Overall, access is currently 82% of covered lives with 70% having unrestricted access. In addition, BRILINTA is now on formulary at 81% (324) of the top 400 hospitals throughout the United States as identified by AstraZeneca. A full list of available formularies that include BRILINTA can be found on Fingertip Formulary, a website that offers formulary drug status on the most commonly prescribed drugs across a comprehensive list of health plans.
Another important support resource now available is Access My BRILINTA, which provides time-saving prescription access and affordability information to patients and healthcare providers. Access My BRILINTA is available by calling 1-888-512-7454 (1-888-51-BRILINTA) or visiting BRILINTA.com.
For patients that require BRILINTA beyond their hospital stay, a savings card program is available based on eligibility. Commercially insured and cash-paying patients may be eligible for one free 30-day prescription and can save up to $825 per year on their next 11 refills. For each refill (a 30-day supply of up to 60 tablets), savings may apply after the first $18 spent by a patient, up to a $75 savings limit. Patients covered through Medicare, Medicaid or similar federal or state programs may be eligible for one month free prescription. Patients can find out more at www.BRILINTAtouchpoints.com or by calling 1-888-412-7454.
http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=BW&date=20121204&id=15862329