Catamaran launches new specialty pharmacy brand

LISLE, Ill. — A pharmacy benefit manager has launched a new specialty pharmacy offering.

Catamaran announced Monday the introduction of BriovaRx, which it said would mark "the beginning of a new day in the specialty sector, delivering personalized, holistic care to patients with complex and chronic conditions to improve health outcomes."

The company said BriovaRx would be the fifth-largest specialty pharmacy in the country and would have the skill and scale to effectively manage costs for health plans and other payers challenged by escalating specialty drug prices and increased utilization. According to the company, specialty plan spending is estimated to grow from 2010's 18% of total pharmacy costs to 43% by 2020.

"Patients diagnosed with complex medical conditions often face insurmountable challenges to managing their conditions — financially, emotionally and physically," Catamaran chairman and CEO Mark Thierer said. "In contrast to an industry that's focused solely on the drug, BriovaRx focuses not he patient, ensuring they receive on-on-one support and a personalized plan that addresses all conditions — not just the underlying chronic illness — to help them lead healthy, vibrant lives."

Formerly known as SXC Health Solutions, Catamaran has operated in specialty for more than 15 years, and the new brand replaces the former specialty pharmacy offering, Medfusion/Ascend.

"Since 11 of the 16 most-utilized drugs in the nation are classified as specialty, BriovaRx addresses a growing need in our communities to better manage complex conditions like hepatitis C, cancer, Crohn's disease, HIV, multiple sclerosis and others," Catamaran SVP pharmacy operations Albert Thigpen said. "BriovaRx provides a support system for the patient and coordinates the efforts of providers and payers to streamline delivery and administration of treatment to ensure a more positive experience for every patient and more time for physicians to focus on care."

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