Pfizer Inc. announced the introduction of Retacrit (epoetin alfa-epbx) injection, the first available biosimilar to Procrit (epoetin alfa) and Epogen (epoetin alfa) in the U.S, at a substantial discount.
Pfizer began shipment of Retacrit to wholesalers in the U.S. on Nov. 12.
Retacrit will be introduced at a Wholesale Acquisition Cost of $11.03 per 1,000 units/mL, which is 57.1 percent below the WAC of Procrit (epoetin alfa) [$25.72 per 1,000 units/mL] and 33.5 percent below the WAC of Epogen (epoetin alfa) [$16.58 per 1,000 units/mL], its reference product.
WAC is not inclusive of discounts to payers, providers, distributors and other purchasing organizations.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has granted two unique assigned Q codes for Retacrit: Q5105 for End-Stage Renal Disease on dialysis and Q5106 for non-ESRD.
Additionally, Retacrit qualifies for pass-through status under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system.
Retacrit is Pfizer’s third available biosimilar in the U.S. Pfizer also has an extensive biosimilars pipeline, including three biosimilars products currently accepted for review by the FDA. Pfizer has entered into an agreement with Vifor Pharma Inc. for the commercialization of Retacrit in certain channels.
Last week, FDA granted accelerated approval to Replimune Group Inc. for it’s biologic, RP1 (vusolimogene oderparepvec), following the FDA Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee’s 10:3 vote in support of the biologic in combination with nivolumab for the treatment of advanced melanoma in patients who have progressed on prior anti-PD-1 therapy.
