Wednesday, October 1, 2008

New York State Moves Vytorin® to "NON-PREFERRED" Status -- as of 10.01.08


This is very-likely to be one of many states (and perhaps -- the federal Medicaid system, itself, as well) to require "prior authorization" before Vytorin® may be submitted for reimbursement, by any doctor whose patient is a New York Medicaid recipient.

This probability was predicted by several writers in February 2008 (including the author of this blog). Consequently, it is unlikely that Vytorin® will ever again show significant quarter over quarter sales growth in the United States. This franchise (along with Zetia®) represents at least 50 percent of Schering's expected 2008 profitability. It is hard to overstate the importance of this event. Buckle your chin-strap, Kenilworth -- as Round Two of the Layoff Crash Car Derby is about to begin. . . .

An image of the actual page of the New York State Medicaid document coming -- in mere moments -- here (click to enlarge):



NEW YORK STATE MEDICAID
PREFERRED DRUG LIST

All non-preferred drugs in these classes require prior authorization. . . .

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

NON-PREFERRED AGENTS

Vytorin®. . . .

Oddly, Zetia -- of which Vytorin is partially comprised -- retains preferred status as an LDL lowering agent -- but apparently not a CV outcomes-approved (Reductase Inhibitor) agent. I am actively seeking feedback on that portion of this event. Any comment? Any docs out there?

[All with a sincere, and huge, Hat Tip to Anonymous Commenter No. 24, at CafePharma.com, here.]

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vytorin is off but Zetia on in Illinois as well

Anonymous said...

That's interesting -- and probably the way most states will break. A regular at CafePharma commented that the Zetia listing may be explained in terms of being the only drug in the class of (non-CV-outcome effecting) simple cholesterol lowering compounds.

That comment reminded us that Zetia is to be a "last line" therapy.

Thanks for the new Illinois information!

Anonymous said...

actually, zetia is only drug in class as 'absorption inhibitor' not as 'non-CV outcome.'

The latter needs to be confirmed or disproved.

Anonymous said...

True. It might be more simply stated -- in plain English -- that Zetia is the only FDA approved drug that uses a gut-absorption mechanism to lower cholesterol. The ones with favorable CV event reduction outcomes data in their favor all use a liver mechanism -- they are called statins.

Zetia is NOT a statin. VYTORIN is a statin, mixed with the active compound in Zetia. VYTORIN is now NON-Preferred in New Yorka nd Illinois, apparently.

Namaste

Fair enough?

Anonymous said...

bingo~~well said.

Keep up the torch.....despite Frank over on Yahoo.

What do you think are the direct financial impacts of the Wall Street debacle on S/P operations? Didn't many of the houses 'support/fund/broker' the Organon acquistion?

Cash flow must be hurting in Kenilworth, no?

Anonymous said...

Even more bad news for spending capital in Kenilworth:

Schering-Plough's chief executive officer told Dow Jones Newswires early Thursday that a European recession would be hurtful to the company, as a majority of its sales are made overseas