Express Scripts Turns To Compounding To Fight High-Priced Off-Patent Drugs

Pharmacy benefit manager's anti-Daraprim effort signals new direction in pricing battles, but the strategy can only be used in limited circumstances.

Express Scripts Holding Co.'s decision to actively encourage providers to prescribe a compounded alternative to the commercially available product Daraprim marks a new direction in payers' push against rapid price increases for off-patent drugs.

The pharmacy benefit manager announced its decision Dec. 1, saying it has partnered with Imprimis Pharmaceuticals Inc. to compound a low-cost alternative to Turing Pharmaceuticals AG's Daraprim (pyrimethamine)....

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