Biocon Biologics Secures US Deals For Stelara Biosimilar Yesintek

Biocon Ltd. on Monday said its subsidiary, Biocon Biologics Ltd., has entered into multiple agreements to sell Yesintek, a biosimilar to Stelara (Ustekinumab), in the US market.

Yesintek is a monoclonal antibody used to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. It targets Interleukin-12 and Interleukin-23. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the drug in December, Biocon said in an exchange filing.

The biosimilar has been added to a range of formularies by major healthcare and pharmacy benefit management companies. Express Scripts added it to its national preferred formulary from March 21, while Cigna included it in its commercial formulary from the same date. UnitedHealthcare added Yesintek to several formularies, including its commercial formulary, from May 1. CVS Health and Optum Rx will add the drug to their respective formularies from July 1.

Yesintek has also been selected by other formularies, including Navitus, Costco Health Solutions, MedImpact, Priority Health, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and various regional health plans.