Press Release

CVS Caremark Applauds FTC's Leadership on Follow-on Biologics

Calls on Congress to Move Swiftly to Provide Patients and Payors Access and Savings

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Caremark today applauded the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for holding a public Roundtable to address issues of competition and continued innovation under a framework for follow-on biologic drugs.

"CVS Caremark serves millions of patients, many of whom depend on specialty drugs to provide life-saving and life-enhancing treatments for their serious conditions. We support the creation of a federal legislative pathway for FDA approval of these medicines to provide access and savings to patients and payors," said Dave Golding, R.Ph., Executive Vice President for Specialty Pharmacy services at CVS Caremark. "Increased competition in the biologics market will benefit health plans, employers and federal programs, and more importantly, will help make specialty medicines more affordable for patients, many of whom must take these medicines for their entire lives." Golding was a participant at the FTC Roundtable.

CVS Caremark Specialty Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy that specializes in serving the pharmacy needs of people who require complex and chronic therapies for conditions such as hemophilia, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, Cancer and Organ Transplant. Patients who use CVS Caremark Specialty Pharmacy services receive:

• Easy referral process with prompt intake and same day turnaround
• Dedicated interdisciplinary CareTeam
• Pharmacist-led care coordination
• 24/7 clinical support and counseling
• Dedicated disease program toll-free telephone and fax line
• Patient education material
• Discrete, timely delivery of medication anywhere in the US