(Adds background on drugs, PBM, in paragraphs 3-5)
July 10 (Reuters) - Cigna Group's Express Scripts will add three biosimilars of AbbVie's blockbuster arthritis treatment Humira to its list of preferred drugs, the company said on Monday.
The biosimilars include Hyrimoz and an unbranded version of Humira from Swiss company Novartis' generics division Sandoz, as well as German drugmaker Boehringer's Cyltezo.
Express Scripts, the pharmacy benefits management (PBM) business of Cigna's Evernorth unit, said the biosimilars would be included as preferred brands on the PBM's formulary or its drug reimbursement list.
The drugs, launched in July, added to competition for Humira in the U.S. that started in January with the launch of Amgen's Amjevita, which is already on Express Scripts' reimbursement list.
Organon, Coherus BioSciences and South Korea's Celltrion have also launched their Humira biosimilars.
PBMs act as middlemen and negotiate rebates and fees with drug manufacturers, create lists of medications that are covered by insurance, and reimburse pharmacies for patients' prescriptions. (Reporting by Raghav Mahobe in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Sriraj)
