Pharmacy benefit manager Navitus Health Solutions will join CivicaScript as a founding member, the company announced Wednesday.
Navitus prioritizes transparency and affordability in its PBM model. CivicaScript, a statutory public benefit company that's part of Civica Rx, aims to provide lower-cost generic medications to consumers. The partnership will allow for greater distribution of low-cost drugs, including to Navitus' 8.7 million members.
Civica launched CivicaScript in 2020 in a bid to bring affordable versions of common drugs to market, and other founding members include the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Anthem, now Elevance Health. The company works with its manufacturing partners to develop the drugs, then partners with payers and PBMs to pass the savings on to consumers.
“Our partnership with CivicaScript marks significant progress toward Navitus’ mission to transform pharmacy benefits and help more Americans gain access to affordable prescription drug coverage,” said David Fields, CEO of Navitus, in a statement. “We are optimistic about the potential of this partnership to expand access to potentially life-saving medication therapies and improve the health and well-being of those we serve.”
CivicaScript will initially focus on six to 10 medicines for which there is not enough competition to drive down prices. It expects to launch its first medication later this summer.
“We are thrilled to have Navitus as a founding member and partner in our commitment to putting people first by lowering the cost of high-priced generic medicines,” said CivicaScript President Gina Guinasso in a statement. “We partner with organizations that share our commitment to transparency and lowering costs—because everyone deserves access to the medicines they need to stay healthy.”
CivicaScript is a subsidiary of Civica Rx, a nonprofit generic drug manufacturer that was launched in 2018 by leading health systems including Intermountain Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente and Mayo Clinic in an effort to address drug shortages and rising prices.
The company has produced nearly 60 drugs to date and has plans to manufacture generic insulin products.