US-based CVS Caremark Partners with Zydus Lifesciences to Expand Diabetes Treatment Portfolio

This move will expand the treatment options available to diabetes patients in the United States. CVS Caremark will add Zituvio, Zituvimet, and Zituvimet XR to its drug listings on January 1, 2025.

CVS Caremark, a leading pharmacy benefit manager under CVS Health, has announced a strategic partnership with Ahmedabad-based Zydus Lifesciences to include the latter’s diabetes management products in its formulary.

This move will expand the treatment options available to diabetes patients in the United States. CVS Caremark will add Zituvio, Zituvimet, and Zituvimet XR to its drug listings on January 1, 2025.

Zydus Lifesciences’ Zituvio and its combination products—Zituvimet and Zituvimet XR—are now included in the template formulary following the US FDA approval of these products under the 505(b)(2) route. These drugs are designed to help manage type 2 diabetes mellitus by improving glycemic control in adults when used alongside diet and exercise.

Zituvio, a standalone medication, contains sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. Zituvimet and Zituvimet XR combine sitagliptin with metformin hydrochloride (HCl), a biguanide.

Metformin is a widely used medication for managing type 2 diabetes, and the extended-release formula of Zituvimet XR offers a longer-lasting effect to help control blood sugar levels throughout the day.

The partnership comes at a time when metabolic and lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, have become significant drivers of prescription drug growth.

According to IQVIA data for the 12 months ending August 2023, the US market for DPP-IV inhibitors and their combinations is valued at $10 billion. The inclusion of Zydus’ products in CVS Caremark’s formulary is expected to improve access to effective diabetes management treatments.