Novartis to launch direct-to-patient platform for Cosentyx in U.S.

Novartis (NVS) announced plans to launch a direct-to-patient platform in the U.S. which will come into effect on November 1, offering cash-paying patients prescribed Cosentyx the option to purchase it at a 55% discount off the list price. “Through the DTP platform, Novartis will offer Cosentyx to American patients at a price that reflects the average savings that insurers and pharmacy benefit managers receive. The Cosentyx DTP platform serves as proof-of-concept for a direct-selling model for specialty medicines and ideally would work alongside insurance to help improve patient affordability. In the US, the company intends to offer a DTP option for additional medicines in its portfolio as appropriate and is exploring a direct-to-business model, selling Cosentyx, and potentially additional medicines, to large employers as another way to increase access and affordability,” the company said. “Breakthrough innovation is what drives us at Novartis, in scientific research, medicine development, and in the ways in which we deliver our innovation to patients. In the US, we have long recognized that weneed new ways to reach patients more directly by removing barriers in the system,” said Victor Bulto, President, US for Novartis. “The launch of this new platform is a first step as we continue to work toward solutions to provide our net prices more directly to patients and make the healthcare system work better for Americans.”