Prime Therapeutics, Merck KGaA subsidiary enter contractual agreement over MS drug

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A pharmacy benefit manager and the U.S. subsidiary of a German drug maker have made a deal concerning a drug for multiple sclerosis.

Prime Therapeutics and EMD Serono, part of German drug maker Merck KGaA, said the deal for the drug Rebif (interferon beta-1a) would bring the first outcomes-based rebate contract for a multiple sclerosis drug to Prime's CareCentered Contracting program. The contract stipulates that EMD Serono will pay rebates to Prime if patients on Rebif have a higher overall total cost to their plans than patients on a different MS drug or if the medication adherence rate remains above a specified level.

"With more than 57% of the direct healthcare costs to treat MS in the United States related to drug expenses, it is important to focus on medication adherence and cost effectiveness to ensure the greatest health benefit for each dollar spent," Prime SVP cost of care Peter Wickersham said. "Our CareCentered Contract with EMD Serono goes beyond outcomes to do just that. It includes the total cost of care component, inclusive of medical and pharmacy costs and medication adherence."

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