CVS announced Tuesday it will expand its use of lower-cost biosimilars and transition to interchangeable alternatives for select brands, including Johnson & Johnson’s psoriasis drug Stelara.
The change comes as CVS Caremark works to increase adoption of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved biosimilars for its most common formularies. The update aligns with the company’s broader formulary strategy, emphasizing affordability, access and value.
The changes will be effective July 1, the company said in the announcement.
“Our formulary plays a critical role in addressing rising drug costs without compromising clinical quality,” said Joshua Fredell, CVS Health senior vice president, in a statement. “Expanding adoption of FDA-approved biosimilars allows us to deliver significant savings for clients while supporting broader, more affordable access to proven therapies.”
CVS will transition from Stelara to the biosimilars Pyzchiva and Yesintek as the preferred options on its most common commercial formularies. The company said this will result in most CVS members paying $0 out-of-pocket for these drugs.
The company is also expanding biosimilar coverage for specialty treatments, including multiple sclerosis and rare blood disorders. Replacements meet FDA standards and are designed as interchangeable, where applicable.
CVS is also focusing on healthcare as part of its strategy, with plans to open 20 pharmacy-only locations across the U.S. in 2026. It also plans to open 40 new CVS Pharmacy locations.
Moreover, CVS announced a planned primary care partnership between its MinuteClinics and Mass General Brigham last summer.
Through the planned partnership, 37 MinuteClinic locations in Massachusetts would expand to offer primary care services. The organizations said they expect 80 current MinuteClinic nurses to manage primary care panels of 1,500 patients each after a few years.