Drug Channels: Cardinal Health buys specialty distributor Metro Medical

PHILADELPHIA - Cardinal Health on Tuesday acquired Metro Medical, the largest independent specialty distributor, Drug Channels reported Wednesday. 

 

"It’s a great move for Cardinal, which dramatically expands its small specialty distribution business while gaining access to new practice settings," observed Adam Fein, president Pembroke Consulting and CEO Drug Channels Institute, in a blog published this morning. "The Metro deal also puts Cardinal a little closer to the specialty businesses of AmerisourceBergen and McKesson."

 

According to Fein, the largest specialty distributors are divisions of full-line wholesalers. "These include the distributors in AmerisourceBergen Corporation’s Specialty Group (Oncology Supply, ASD Healthcare and Besse Medical) and McKesson Specialty Health (a business unit of McKesson Corporation)," he noted.