Harrow and Asembia are kicking off a multi-year partnership intended to expand access to over 10 of Harrow’s ophthalmic branded products across the United States.
The key target: Not only simplifying the prescribing process of these products for eye care professionals (ECPs), but also improving the accessibility and affordability for their patients.
First, a rundown on these players.
No need for an introduction to Harrow … however, just last month, the company relaunched TRIESENCE (triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension) 40 mg/mL, a preservative-free synthetic corticosteroid indicated for visualization during vitrectomy and to treat ocular inflammatory conditions unresponsive to topical corticosteroids.
To note: This product was part of the company’s acquisition of the exclusive U.S. rights to five FDA-approved ophthalmic products from Novartis, Inc. in January 2023.
- Also of interest: Four of those five products are included in this Asembia partnership.
Nice! Now to Asembia.
A Florham Park, New Jersey-based provider of specialty pharmacy and patient support services, Asembia features a non-dispensing pharmacy called Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Network (ASPN) Pharmacies.
About ASPN: Specializing in patient support services, the pharmacy works with prescribers and insurance companies to streamline the prescription process and assist patients in gaining access to necessary medications.
And this partnership?
Together, Harrow and Asembia are launching a nationwide digital patient access solution that will expand access to Harrow-branded products, including:
- FLAREX (fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension) 0.1%)
- ILEVRO (nepafenac ophthalmic suspension) 0.3%
- MAXIDEX (dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension) 0.1%
- MAXITROL (neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension)
- NATACYN (natamycin ophthalmic suspension) 5%
- NEVANAC (nepafenac ophthalmic suspension) 0.1%
- TOBRADEX ST (tobramycin/dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension) 0.3%/0.05%
- VERKAZIA (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1%
- VEVYE (cyclosporine ophthalmic solution) 0.1%
- VIGAMOX (moxifloxacin hydrochloride ophthalmic suspension) 0.5%
- ZERVIATE (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.1%
What’s the intent?
Essentially, to remove barriers to access and affordability of these branded products as well as “streamline the entire patient journey,” according to Harrow Chairman and CEO Mark L. Baum.
And what does this cover, you ask? Ideally, the following:
- Prescription intake
- Benefits verification
- Prior authorization
- Co-pay support
- Patient assistance program eligibility
- Take note: This partnership does not include dispensing medications, just the resources for assistance.
How does this help ECPs?
Through ASPN’s advanced support centers, Baum noted that ECPs will be able to “seamlessly submit prescriptions through their (electronic health record/electronic medical record) EHR/EMR systems, while ASPN handles the rest, including automating the refill process.”
And patients?
The goal is for patients to have the ability to begin their prescription therapies faster—at the “lowest possible out-of-pocket cost,” according to Baum—while also managing their refill process.
Say I’m interested in this for my patients … how do I get started?
You’ve got two options:
- Directly select ASPN Pharmacies using the dropdown menu in your EHR/EMR platform
- Order products directly via the ASPN provider portal
- Note: This portal allows physicians to order multiple branded ophthalmic products in a single order, which will then be dispensed by the physician.
And lastly, speaking of product accessibility … isn’t there also some VEVYE news?
You bet there is … Harrow also just announced what it calls its “first major market access wins” within the 2025 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program for the FDA-approved prescription-based eye drop.
The win: Effective Jan. 1, 2025, VEVYE will be included in “key formularies” managed by major plan sponsors that represent “over 25 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries.” These include:
- Express Scripts
- Cigna
- Kaiser Permanente
- CVS Caremark
Quick refresh: A “formulary” is a list of generic and brand name prescription drugs an insurance plan covers; it’s key to guiding patients to selecting more cost-effective medications.
So what’s the significance of this?
The latest Medicare Part D coverage for VEVYE joins the eye drops’ “broad coverage across other major insurance programs, including 100% of U.S. Medicaid programs and 60% of commercial insurance coverage,” according to the company.