Novartis sets heart price drug with two insurers based on health outcome

Health insurers Cigna and Aetna separately confirmed that the price they pay for sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto—Novartis) will be determined by how well the new heart drug works. It was shown in clinical trials to reduce hospitalizations as well as the rate of cardiovascular death from heart failure, and Aetna said its deal would establish price based on the manufacturer replicating those results in real life. Cigna, meanwhile, said its payments would be based on a drop in the share of users admitted to the hospital for heart failure.