Medicare formulary policy

AstraZeneca's oncology drug Iressa (gefitinib) "is not required on formularies," CMS says in revision to its Q&A on Medicare formularies. The agency's document previously said the decision was awaiting FDA's review of trial results for the drug (1"The Pink Sheet" June 20, 2005, p. 21). FDA said June 17 that the Iressa trial did not demonstrate a survival benefit. CMS' revision also says "all formularies must include either escitalopram [Forest's Lexapro] or citalopram [Forest's Celexa]" in the antidepressant category; the statement previously said either drug "may be left off formularies"...

AstraZeneca's oncology drug Iressa (gefitinib) "is not required on formularies," CMS says in revision to its Q&A on Medicare formularies. The agency's document previously said the decision was awaiting FDA's review of trial results for the drug (¹ (Also see "Medicare Part D Formularies May Omit Lexapro Or Celexa, CMS Says" - Pink Sheet, 20 Jun, 2005.), p. 21). FDA said June 17 that the Iressa trial did not demonstrate a survival benefit. CMS' revision also says "all formularies must include either escitalopram [Forest's Lexapro ] or citalopram [Forest's Celexa ]" in the antidepressant category; the statement previously said either drug "may be left off formularies"....