Highmark Enters Outcomes-based Contract for Anti-inflammatory Drug Cimzia

Highmark announced today that it entered into an outcomes-based agreement with UCB Inc. for its tumor necrosis factor blocking medication certolizumab pegol (Cimzia). The drug is approved for use in adults with chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and plaque psoriasis. The contract applies to the provider–administered injection formulation of the product, and covers all of Highmark’s commercial members in Delaware, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

“We’ll be looking to measure how patients are performing on this medication in the real world,” said Corey DeLuca, PharmD, the vice president of clinical and specialty pharmacy services for the company. “Are they staying on the medications as prescribed, or are patients—for whatever reason—discontinuing the medications early?” Read more here.