Pradaxa granted preferred formulary status through AARP's Prescription Solutions

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — A drug for cardiovascular disease made by Boehringer Ingelheim has received preferred formulary status with AARP’s Medicare Part D plans, the drug maker said Thursday.

BI announced that Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate mesylate) received preferred Tier 2 formulary status through AARP’s pharmacy benefit manager, Prescription Solutions. The Food and Drug Administration approved Pradaxa in October 2010 to reduce the risk of stroke and embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

“The addition of Pradaxa to the nation’s largest Part D plans helps ensure that many more NVAF patients have access to this important medication, which in a clinical study has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of stroke compared to warfarin,” Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals VP cardiovascular and metabolic disorders marketing Wa’el Hashad said. “Pradaxa is now on formulary with AARP, Medco, Express Scripts and several more of the nation’s largest managed care providers.”