Effective July 1, 2026 for our Tufts Health Together members, in support of recent guidance from MassHealth, Starjemza and ustekinumab-aekn (unbranded product for Selardi) will be designated as the preferred biosimilar agents for Stelara (ustekinumab).

With this change, the current preferred ustekinumab biosimilars — Imuldosa (ustekinumab-srlf), Pyzchiva (ustekinumab-ttwe), and Steqeyma (ustekinumab-stba) — will be non-preferred and subject to a step therapy requirement. Coverage of these biosimilar agents may be available only after the member has first tried and failed both of the newly preferred ustekinumab biosimilars, Starjemza and unbranded ustekinumab-aekn. 

If your Tufts Health Together patient has an active authorization for one of these soon-to-be non-preferred ustekinumab products, the authorization will be end-dated on June 30, 2026 and switched automatically to a new authorization for a preferred ustekinumab product starting July 1 for the remaining duration of the authorization period.