AstraZeneca said it will launch a...

...trial for its blood cancer drug, Calquence, against the novel coronavirus, following a report from the U.S. government's National Cancer Institute that the drug saw some success in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients with serious lung complications. It's thought that the drug may be able to reduce inflammation associated with the immune system's extreme response to the virus. For the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Calquence holds preferred formulary status for just 1% of covered lives, which grows to 15% with prior authorization and/or step therapy. 24% of covered lives have access to Calquence on a specialty tier.

SOURCE: MMIT Analytics, as of 4/15/20