Cigna (NYSE:CI) has entered into a first-of-its-kind contract with
AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) to help ensure that customers are given an
appropriate cholesterol-lowering medication based on their treatment
needs. For Cigna customers who are at increased risk for atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and need to aggressively manage their
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), CRESTOR®
(rosuvastatin calcium), a brand-name, cholesterol-lowering drug
manufactured by AstraZeneca, can be prescribed and filled without
requiring prior authorization.
As an integrated health services company, Cigna is able to use both
medical and pharmacy information in predictive risk modeling to
appropriately assess a customer’s overall health condition. This
approach analyzes multiple clinical factors to identify customers most
at risk for ASCVD related to high cholesterol. When a doctor prescribes
CRESTOR, customers identified as being at higher risk will no longer be
subject to “step therapy”–where a generic alternative is tried first–and
can have their prescriptions for CRESTOR filled immediately.
“Our arrangement with Cigna is an evolutionary step in supporting
patient health, and facilitating access to CRESTOR for high risk
patients. Predictive risk modeling can be used to help support the right
treatment for the right patient at the right time, and we are excited to
be working with Cigna because they are the only insurance carrier or
Pharmacy Benefit Manager we have seen who has offered this capability,”
says Philip de Vane, MD, Executive Director of US Medical Affairs,
AstraZeneca.
“Cigna's mission is to help the people we serve improve their health,
well-being, and sense of security, and using predictive risk modeling
for our customers aligns incentives to drive affordability and improved
outcomes. It is a more effective way to manage prescription drug costs
for employers and customers by making it easier for higher-risk patients
to obtain important medicines like CRESTOR more quickly while still
using generics where they are a viable alternative,” says Chris Hocevar,
President of Cigna Pharmacy Management and Select Business. “It is
exciting to break new ground with AstraZeneca because they share our
commitment to patients.”
CRESTOR is now available to Cigna customers as the preferred brand-name
statin, saving customers out-of-pocket costs. This preferred status
applies to both those who are determined to be at higher risk and those
at lower risk who are not getting enough cholesterol lowering from
treatment with a generic statin.
About CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium) Tablets
CRESTOR is indicated as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated Total-C,
LDL-C, ApoB, non-HDL-C, and triglycerides, and to increase HDL-C in
adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia and to
slow the progression of atherosclerosis in adult patients as part of a
treatment strategy to lower Total-C and LDL-C to target levels. CRESTOR
is also indicated to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke,
and arterial revascularization procedures in patients without clinically
evident coronary heart disease but with an increased risk of
cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on age (men ≥50 and women ≥60),
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥2 mg/L, and the presence of
at least one additional CVD risk factor, such as hypertension, low
HDL-C, smoking, or a family history of premature coronary heart disease.
Important Safety Information for CRESTOR®
(rosuvastatin calcium) Tablets
CRESTOR is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to
any component of this product, in patients with active liver disease,
which may include unexplained persistent elevations of hepatic
transaminase levels, in women who are pregnant or may become pregnant,
and in nursing mothers.
Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary
to myoglobinuria have been reported with statins, including CRESTOR.
These risks can occur at any dose level, but are increased at the
highest dose (40 mg).
CRESTOR should be prescribed with caution in patients with predisposing
factors for myopathy (eg, age ≥65 years, inadequately treated
hypothyroidism, renal impairment). The risk of myopathy during treatment
with CRESTOR may be increased with concurrent administration of some
other lipid-lowering therapies (fibrates or niacin), gemfibrozil,
cyclosporine, lopinavir/ritonavir, or atazanavir/ritonavir.
Therapy with CRESTOR should be discontinued if markedly elevated CK
levels occur or myopathy is diagnosed or suspected. There have been rare
reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with statin
use. All patients should be advised to promptly report unexplained
muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by
malaise or fever, and if muscle signs and symptoms persist after
discontinuing CRESTOR.
It is recommended that liver enzyme tests be performed before the
initiation of CRESTOR and if signs or symptoms of liver injury occur.
All patients treated with CRESTOR should be advised to promptly report
any symptoms that may indicate liver injury, including fatigue,
anorexia, right upper abdominal discomfort, dark urine, or jaundice.
There have been rare postmarketing reports of fatal and non-fatal
hepatic failure in patients taking statins, including CRESTOR. If
serious liver injury with clinical symptoms and/or hyperbilirubinemia or
jaundice occurs during treatment with CRESTOR, promptly interrupt
therapy. If an alternate etiology is not found, do not restart CRESTOR.
CRESTOR should be used with caution in patients who consume substantial
quantities of alcohol and/or have a history of chronic liver disease.
Increases in HbA1c and fasting serum glucose levels have been reported
with statins, including CRESTOR. Based on clinical trial data with
CRESTOR, in some instances these increases may exceed the threshold for
the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.
In the controlled clinical trials database, the most common adverse
reactions were headache (3.7%), myalgia (3.1%), abdominal pain (2.6%),
asthenia (2.5%), and nausea (2.2%). Rare postmarketing reports of
cognitive impairment (eg, memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory
impairment, confusion) have been associated with statin use, including
CRESTOR. These reports are generally nonserious and reversible upon
statin discontinuation.
CRESTOR 40 mg should be used only for those patients not achieving their
LDL-C goal with 20 mg.
Please read the full Prescribing
Information.
If you have any questions concerning prescription-only CRESTOR, please
visit CRESTOR.com or contact AstraZeneca at 1-800-CRESTOR.
CRESTOR is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business
with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization
of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular,
neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious
disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative
medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more
information about AstraZeneca in the US or our AZ&Me™ Prescription
Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com
or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363).
About Cigna
Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI) is a global health service company dedicated
to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of
security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or
through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life
Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna
Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include
an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental,
behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other
related products including group life, accident and disability
insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and
jurisdictions, and has approximately 80 million customer relationships
throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including
links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014