Pradaxa Gains Preferred Formulary Status with Key Pharmacy Benefit Managers

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Boehringer
Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BIPI), today announced that
Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate mesylate) capsules has received
preferred Tier 2 formulary status with CVS Caremark (Commercial
Preferred Drug List) and Medco (Commercial Preferred and Part D
Drug Lists), two of the largest pharmacy benefit managers covering
more than 100 million Americans.(1) The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved PRADAXA in October 2010 to reduce the
risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular
atrial fibrillation (NVAF).(2)

Five months after FDA approval, PRADAXA is now available at the
lowest branded co-pay level on formularies that insure about 35
percent of NVAF patients.(1) For those patients who may not
otherwise be able to afford treatment, BIPI offers patient
assistance programs to help provide coverage for the costs of their
medications.

In the pivotal RE-LY trial, PRADAXA 150mg capsules taken twice
daily reduced the incidence of stroke and systemic embolism by 35
percent beyond the reduction achieved with warfarin(2), which was
dosed to a target international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0 to
3.0.(2) The effects of PRADAXA compared to warfarin were more
apparent in patients with lower levels of INR control.(2)

“These formulary additions will offer non-valvular atrial
fibrillation patients increased access to PRADAXA, including its
demonstrated ability to significantly reduce the risk of stroke
over warfarin in this patient population,” said Wa’el Hashad, vice
president, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders marketing,
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “We look forward to a
long relationship with CVS Caremark and Medco, and are committed to
working with other pharmacy benefit managers as well as offering
our own programs to help make PRADAXA available to patients with
non-valvular atrial fibrillation.”

PRADAXA is the only FDA-approved treat

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