Bioventus Announces Partnership With UnitedHealthcare

A global leader in the science and application of orthobiologics, Bioventus LLC, has announced a nationwide contract with UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual commercial plans.

As a result of this contract, on October 1, 2019, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) commercial plan members will have access to DUROLANE and GELSYN-3 treatments for osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain.

Osteoarthritis results in degeneration of cartilage and synovial fluid. Injection treatments with hyaluronic acid-based products can help manage osteoarthritic knee pain. Hyaluronic acid acts similarly to synovial joint fluid, which cushions and lubricates joints. These treatments support joint functioning and reduce pain by providing lubrication and shock absorption.

DUROLANE is a single-injection hyaluronic acid treatment. GELSYN-3 is a three-injection hyaluronic acid treatment. Both are used for osteoarthritis of knee patients who don’t respond to conservative pain treatments such as acetaminophen. DUROLANE and GELSYN-3 are utilized to relieve pain and restore function for up to six months.

“We are pleased DUROLANE and GELSYN-3 are among the preferred options available to UnitedHealthcare members and physicians,” said John Nosenzo, Bioventus chief commercial officer. “Both now have access to two safe HA products that are proven to provide relief from knee OA pain.”

Tim Donovan, vice president of Health Economics and Market Access at Bioventus, told OTW, “In late 2018 we worked with UnitedHealthcare to secure DUROLANE and GELSYN-3 as a preferred choice with their Medicare Advantage patients suffering from knee OA pain beginning in January of this year…In now adding its commercial plans, all UHC patients nationwide have access to DUROLANE and GELSYN-3, both of which provide increased mobility for patients and are backed by clinical data.”

Durham, North Carolina-based Bioventus delivers research-based orthobiologics worldwide. Bioventus reports $300 million dollars in annual revenue. Its products promote healing in the treatment of osteoarthritis, and both surgical and non-surgical bone healing. This includes the production and marketing of ultrasound bone growth stimulators. Bioventus employs over 700 employees worldwide and provides services in 30 countries.

Founded in the 1970s, Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare is the largest revenue-producing managed healthcare company in the world. In 2018, UnitedHealthcare reported $11.98 billion in earnings with $226.2 annual revenue via roughly 115 million customers. UnitedHealthcare is the nation’s largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. These plans act as privately run versions of similar federally funded Medicare coverage programs for seniors.