Partnering with Japanese pharmaceutical and research company Eisai, Biogen said that it intends to enter into a collaboration with Cigna and an initiative with CVS Health based on screening and education to streamline access to the Alzheimer’s drug, marketed as Aduhelm.
- A strategic collaboration: Following the FDA’s approval of Aduhelm (aducanumab) for Alzheimer’s disease, Biogen announced a collaboration with CVS Health and the intention to enter into a value-based contract with Cigna. The program will begin in Atlanta, Boston/Providence, Charlotte, Charleston/Columbia, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Jackson/Memphis, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
- A fatal disease: “Alzheimer’s disease imposes a tremendous burden on patients, caregivers, and society as a whole,” said Dr. Steve Miller, executive vice president, and chief clinical officer at Cigna. “Given the known infrastructure challenges in the U.S., we are working to ensure that the patients who will benefit most from this new treatment have a clear path to access it.”
- Efforts from the company: As part of the effort, cognitive screenings will be available through CVS Health’s Project Health, a health services program addressing care disparities for uninsured and underinsured Americans, particularly in racially and ethnically diverse communities. Patients or their caregivers will be able to consult with onsite healthcare providers about their personalized screening results.
- A great sense of purpose: “We feel a great sense of purpose and responsibility to turn the hope of today’s FDA approval of ADUHELM into a reality for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families” said Alisha Alaimo, President of Biogen U.S. “We are committed to access and health equity as top priorities and will continue working with multiple stakeholders with the goal of helping patients who may benefit from treatment obtain care as quickly as possible.”
- A commitment to healthcare: Biogen is committed to addressing health equity for underserved and underrepresented populations that are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Black/African Americans and Latinx people are disproportionally more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as well as more likely to have missed diagnoses compared to non-Hispanic white Americans. The ethnically diverse population of U.S. veterans also faces an increased risk for the disease as a result of their service, including conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other factors.
