CVS Caremark to Replace Eli Lilly’s Forteo with Over 50% Cheaper Biosimilars
Beginning April 1, 2026, CVS Caremark will remove Eli Lilly’s Forteo (teriparatide) from its national commercial formularies and add generic teriparatide products Bonsity and Tymlos plus osteoporosis biosimilars Ospomyv and Stoboclo, cutting prescription costs by over 50%. This shift threatens Forteo’s market share and revenue stream for Eli Lilly in the osteoporosis segment.
1. Formulary Changes and Product Swap
Starting April 1, 2026, CVS Caremark will add generic teriparatide products Bonsity and Tymlos plus biosimilars Ospomyv (from Cordavis) and Stoboclo (from Celltrion) to its major national commercial formularies. These additions will directly replace branded treatments Prolia (denosumab) from Amgen and Forteo (teriparatide) from Eli Lilly.
2. Cost Savings and Patient Transition
CVS projects that replacing the branded drugs with these biosimilars and generics will reduce prescription costs by more than 50% versus the original brands. CVS Specialty will coordinate with prescribers and patients to facilitate seamless transitions and maintain treatment continuity.
3. Impact on Eli Lilly’s Forteo Sales
Forteo, a specialty osteoporosis treatment, will face a significant decline in formulary coverage, putting pressure on its prescription volumes and revenue contribution to Eli Lilly’s bone health franchise. Market share losses in this segment could prompt Lilly to adjust pricing or marketing strategies.
4. Broader PBM Biosimilar Strategy
This move builds on CVS Caremark’s prior exclusions of high-cost originator drugs, such as Humira, in favor of lower-cost biosimilars. CVS reports $1.5 billion in gross savings from its biosimilar formulary approach and a 96% patient transition success rate for Humira alternatives.