Focus on Humana Pharmacy Solutions

Arimidex^®

The patent for Arimidex, used to treat breast cancer, expired in June. Several manufacturers have received approval to market generic versions. Approximately 7,000 Humana members filled prescriptions for Arimidex in April of 2010 and the net paid for this medication during the same period was $2.4 million.

Effexor XR^®

The antidepressant, Effexor XR, is now available in generic form. Approximately 400,000 Humana members filled prescriptions for an antidepressant in April of 2010. Humana's net paid for these medications during the same period was $16 million, of which Effexor XR accounted for 22 percent.

Exelon^®

Exelon, used to treat Alzheimer's disease, was approved for generic distribution in July. Exelon has annual sales of approximately $130 million in the U.S. Humana members filled approximately 119,741 scripts in June 2010 for Alzheimer's medications, and Humana's net net paid for these medications during the same period was $18.6 million, of which Exelon accounted for 10.4 percent.

Lovenox^®

In July, the FDA approved the first generic version of Sanofi-Aventis' Lovenox injection. Lovenox is the leading hospital-based medication in the U.S. and is an anticoagulant used to treat conditions such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Lovenox is commonly used and has been used to treat an estimated 200 million patients worldwide since it entered the market. Approximately 5,000 Humana members filled prescriptions for drugs similar to Lovenox this past May. Humana's net paid for Lovenox was $2.3 million.

As part of our ongoing commitment to keep your costs in line, Humana Pharmacy Solutions monitors the launch of generic medications and recognizes the value they bring to cost management. The commonly used medications in the chart below will have generics available later in 2010.