VIVUS Shares Edge Higher as Express Scripts Adds Qsymia to Benefits Program

VIVUS, Inc.

today announced that Express Scripts, among the country's largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), has added Qsymia™ to its national pharmacy formularies, allowing for coverage where available by benefit design of the first new FDA-approved medication commercially available in the U.S. in over a decade for the treatment of chronic weight management. Express Scripts provides the formulary design, pharmaceutical contract management and claims processing for some of the largest payers and employers in the U.S. Qsymia has been added as a standard benefit option to Express Scripts' national formulary in a tier-3 position with a prior authorization. Under the Express Scripts plan, participating patients will now pay an estimated $50.00 to $60.00 for their co-payment for a monthly prescription of Qsymia, approximately one-third of the retail price.