Aetna has entered into a value-based agreement with Merck for the type 2 diabetes medications Januvia® (sitagliptin) and Janumet® (sitagliptin plus metformin).
Merck will also become the first health care company to participate in AetnaCareSM, a new personalized health and wellness care initiative that provides members the knowledge, tools, and support to take a proactive role in managing their own health.
Measuring value differently
Merck and Aetna have entered into a unique value-based contract that supports the objectives of Aetna and Merck to help adult patients with type 2 diabetes access appropriate treatment. Under this agreement, Merck’s rebates on Januvia and Janumet will be based in part on those products’ contributions to helping Aetna’s commercial member population with type 2 diabetes achieve or maintain treatment objectives.
“At Aetna, we believe that focusing on how physicians prescribe medications in real world settings is a key element in determining the value of the treatment,” said Dr. Harold L. Paz, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Aetna. “It is in everyone’s interest to ensure that patients receive appropriate medicines to help patients achieve their treatment goals.”
“Merck shares Aetna’s commitment to focusing on patients, and we are confident that the value-based agreement will help advance our common goal of helping patients with type 2 diabetes,” said Robert McMahon, President, U.S. Market, Global Human Health, Merck.