Cigna Drops OxyContin, Signs Value-Based Contract For Xtampza ER

Cigna, one of the nation’s largest insurers, has announced it will stop covering OxyContin in favor of an abuse-derrent formulation, Xtampza ER (oxycodone, Collegium), according to a recent press release.

“Our focus is on helping customers get the most value from their medications—this means obtaining effective pain relief while also guarding against opioid misuse,” Jon Maesner, PharmD, chief pharmacy officer at Cigna, said in the press release. “We continually evaluate the clinical effectiveness, affordability, and safety of all our covered medications as these characteristics can change over time, and we make adjustments that we believe will provide better overall value for those we serve.”

The company has signed a value-based pricing contract with Collegium Pharmaceutical for their abuse-deterrent opioid, Xtampza ER. According to the release, Xtampza ER maintains its extended release properties even after being cut, crushed, chewed, or otherwise tampered with. Xtampza ER is currently a high-tier preferred brand on Cigna’s formularies and will remain so through this contract.

The value-based contract will be based on a daily dose threshold—with Collegium absorbing more of the costs in the event that its daily average dose strengths exceed a specific threshold. 

“While drug companies don’t control prescriptions, they can help influence patient and doctor conversations by educating people about their medications,” Dr Maesner said. “The insights we obtain from the metrics in the new value-based contract will help us continue to evolve our opioid management strategies to assist our customers and their doctors.”

—David Costill