TELUS Health has published its most recent drug pipeline report, the 2024 Drug Pipeline: What private plans need to know. In it, they discuss 12 new drugs coming to the market, and their anticipated impact on private drug plans.
Of those discussed, 10 fall into three categories with potentially large patient populations, including women’s health, weight loss and atopic dermatitis.
In women’s health, treatments for uterine fibroids and endometriosis are discussed, as is a new treatment for postpartum depression. Menopausal symptoms and sexual dysfunction are also on the list of those conditions to be treated using the 12 new therapies.
Obesity drugs
In weight loss, meanwhile, four obesity drugs are currently available in the United States, with six awaiting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and 70 more in development. “Activity in the obesity drug market is much slower in Canada,” they write. “Saxenda and Contrave, approved by Health Canada in 2015 and 2018 respectively, have had little impact since most private drug plans at the time regarded them as lifestyle drugs which require the plan sponsor to need to opt in for coverage. Many elected not to.”
With clinical practice guidelines updated in 2022, however, they add that more private drug plans are now including coverage for the new class of obesity treatments.
Generics and biosimilars
Treatments for severe alopecia areata and cancer are also discussed, as are generics and biosimilars. Overall, they say of the 12 drugs examined, six are poised to have a high budget impact on plans.
“If plan sponsors haven’t already done so, they would do well to consult with their benefits advisor or insurance provider to ensure that coverage of obesity drugs – and their guardrails for appropriate use – are in place. Step therapy or a form of prior authorization would be advisable to ensure these drugs are prescribed as indicated,” they write.
