OFFICE OF HEALTH STRATEGY PUBLISHES TOP OUTPATIENT DRUG COST INFORMATION: Enbrel®, Otezla® Top List

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 29, 2024

(Hartford, CT) - The Connecticut Office of Health Strategy (OHS) has published the annual Top Outpatient Prescription Drug summary report and list. These drugs met the criteria established by Conn. Gen State. § 19a-754b (d). The drugs included in the list:

• are provided at substantial cost to the state and/or are critical to public health
• are expensive for a course of treatment; and
• have seen a high price increase.

This year marks the first year since the 2020 report that any drugs met the specifications to be included on the list. The analysis reviewed outpatient prescription drug prices in calendar year 2022 compared to calendar year 2020.

"Our Healthcare Cost Growth Benchmark Report has consistently identified prescription drug costs as a significant driver of health care cost growth in our state," said Deidre S. Gifford, Commissioner, OHS. "Identifying those drugs with high price increases over a relatively short time period and better understanding what drives those price increases is critical to our efforts to keep healthcare affordable for our residents."

Six drugs were included on the final list and make up approximately 3.1% of all retail commercial and Medicaid prescription drug spending, representing almost $175 million (data does not include drug rebates). Enbrel® (etanercept), an immunosuppressant manufactured by AMGEN for the treatment of auto-immune diseases had the highest-spending ($72 million in 2022) at an 18.1% price increase over 2020. Otezla® (apremilast) showed the highest wholesale acquisition cost price increase with an increase of 21% over two years. Otezla®, an enzyme inhibitor, treats plaque and psoriatic arthritis and conditions.
Drugs included on the list are (additional information available online):

The statute requires that the outpatient prescription drug list prepared annually by OHS must include drugs:

• from different therapeutic classes
• with a wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) that 1) increased by not less than 16% cumulatively during the immediately preceding two calendar years and 2) was not less than $40 for a course of treatment

The report can include up to ten drugs each year. The list represents the highest cost prescription drugs that met the statutory criteria.